Fremantle Council announced last week it would cancel its traditional January 26 fireworks because it won’t be “culturally inclusive”.
Australia Day is regarded by some Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander people as “Invasion day”.
“We thought it was time to acknowledge it wasn’t a day of celebration for everybody and it was an opportunity for us to come up with a different format on a different day that could be truly inclusive,” the mayor Dr Brad Pettitt told the West Australian on Friday.
Instead, they will host an event called ‘One Day in Fremantle’ on January 28.
Playing politics
It’s a move that’s provoked mixed reactions from the community.
Well-known Aboriginal elder and former head of the Australia Day Council Robert Isaacs slammed the decision, telling the ABC the Council “should not be playing around with white politics and black politics.”
“That’s not in the spirit of the Australia way and to just listen to a small group of people and to change it from the 26th to the 28th doesn’t stand up with me and it doesn’t stand up with the community,” Dr Isaacs said. “It [Australia Day] brings the community together, it brings the Australian people together and it celebrates the good this country has provided for everyone.”
The Council voted to axe the fireworks back in August, following a protest organised by the Australians of British Heritage for Indigenous Justice and Reconciliation group.
They say the move is supported by the local Aboriginal people and deny they are trying to be politically correct.
It’s true – not everyone does feel comfortable about celebrating on this day. But isn’t that why we should band together and as Dr Isaacs said, “celebrate the good”? And really where do we draw the line?
