In a move that’s sparked controversy, Geelong council has passed a motion to once again recognize January 26 as Australia Day.
The decision was made amidst high tension at City Hall, where a packed gallery was forced to be told to keep quiet on more than one occasion.
The Motion That Split the Council
The motion, introduced by Councillor Eddy Kontelj and seconded by Councillor Trent Sullivan, was debated passionately before passing with a narrow margin of seven votes to four. The report will now be presented to the council at its January 28 meeting, which is expected to endorse it.
So, what does this motion entail? Here are the key components:
January 26 will officially be referred to as Australia Day
Citizenship ceremonies will return
The council will no longer lobby the federal government to change the date
The Councillors Who Voted For and Against the Motion
Councillors Eddy Kontelj, Stretch Kontelj, Andrew Katos, Trent Sullivan, Rowan D. Story, Chris Burson, and Ron Nelson all voted in favor of the motion. On the other hand, Councillors Emma Sinclair, Anthony Aitken, Elise Wilkinson, and Melissa Cadwell opposed the motion.
A Packed Gallery and a Tense Atmosphere
The public viewing area at City Hall was at capacity, with around 50 people forced to stand. A large group of around 50 people gathered at the front steps before the meeting to voice their opposition to the motion. They were addressed by former Socialist Alliance councillor Sarah Hathway, who urged them to remain calm throughout the meeting.
The tension inside the room was palpable, with emotions running high and threatening to boil over at times. Three uniformed police officers were present to keep a watchful eye on the on-edge crowd.
A Council Meeting Like No Other
Mayor Stretch Kontelj noted the high level of public interest in the meeting, but the council decided not to answer any public questions, opting instead to respond in writing. The first eight questions all related to the January 26 motion, each receiving a round of applause from the packed house.
Eddy Kontelj began to answer one of these questions, but was asked to stop. Anthony Aitken then asked if the council could answer questions that weren’t on the evening’s agenda, to which the Mayor responded, “Could you just leave that to me, Mr. Aitken.”
A Symbolic Gesture or a Cynical Move?
Victorian upper house member Sarah Mansfield, a former Geelong councillor, was in attendance and described the motion as a “cynical move” a day prior to the meeting. A majority of the crowd turned their backs when Eddy Kontelj began to speak, causing a rift with other attendees who stood up in support of the motion. The groups exchanged barbs throughout the meeting.
Eddy Kontelj acknowledged that the motion would “not sit comfortably with a portion of the community,” but claimed that it was not intended to be disrespectful. He cited “significant feedback” from the community regarding Australia Day via various channels.
Charlemont ward councillor Emma Sinclair raised an alternate motion that would have seen the May 2023 decision upheld, but it was ultimately unsuccessful. “Good governance is not decision making by a Facebook poll,” Ms. Sinclair said, earning a standing ovation from the crowd.
The Aftermath
Following the vote, the gallery emptied out, and much of the crowd reconvened at the steps of City Hall, where they were addressed by Ms. Hathway and Ms. Mansfield. Only time will tell what this decision will mean for Geelong and its community.