It’s official: the Australia Day Parade in Melbourne is no more. The Victorian government has confirmed that there are no plans to revive the event, which was canned four years ago. But that’s not the only change coming to Australia Day celebrations in the state.
Government Workers Get to Choose
In a move that’s been met with mixed reaction, the government has announced that thousands of public servants will be given the option to work on Australia Day and negotiate an alternative day off. This means that for some, January 26 will no longer be a public holiday.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet says they recognize that the day has become controversial, and that people have different views on its meaning. “We also recognize that January 26 means different things to different people,” a spokesperson said. “On this day, we encourage conversation and reflection on the different meanings of the day for all Victorians.”
What’s Still On
While the parade won’t be happening, some smaller events will still take place in Melbourne’s CBD. The traditional 21-gun salute at the Shrine of Remembrance, the RAAF flyover, and the Flag Raising Ceremony and Open Day at Government House will all go ahead.
Industry Concerns
The decision to allow public servants to work on Australia Day has raised concerns among industry leaders, who fear that private sector employees could start doing the same. “It does increase difficulties for private enterprise,” said Tim Piper, chief of Industry Group. “We don’t want something that has been created for political means within the public service being expanded into the private industry, as inevitably these sorts of things do.”
Aboriginal Community Reaction
Ngarra Murray, Co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, has welcomed the decision to scrap the parade. “The Aboriginal community has a range of views on January 26, but whichever way you look at it, it’s a day of mourning for a lot of our people. So it’s not a date to celebrate.”
A Divided Nation
The debate around Australia Day has been ongoing for years, with some pushing to change the date and others wanting to keep it as is. A recent Roy Morgan poll found that 68.5% of Australians want to keep the day on January 26, while 31.5% support renaming it “Invasion Day”.
The End of the Australia Day Ambassador Program
In another change to Australia Day celebrations, the state government has quietly axed the long-running Victorian Australian Day Ambassadors Program. The program, which featured inspirational community members, will no longer be managed by the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Ambassadors were told in November that they were no longer needed, and that local councils would need to find their own ambassadors. Media identity Lawrence Mooney, who has been an Australia Day ambassador for over 20 years, said he was disappointed by the decision. “The program had been enormously popular with local communities, particularly in far-flung areas of the state,” he said.
A government spokesman said the change was made to ensure ambassadors better reflected local areas. “Every community has their own local champions. That’s why in 2023 we trialled a localised approach to the Australia Day Ambassador Program… to ensure ambassadors reflect and resonate with those communities.”
What do you think about the changes to Australia Day celebrations in Melbourne? Let us know in the comments!