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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Third Melbourne council's vote to ditch Australia Day criticised as 'divisive' | Third Melbourne council's vote to ditch Australia Day criticised as 'divisive' |
| (4 months later) | |
| Federal government considering stripping citizenship ceremony rights from Moreland city council after it voted to drop references to Australia Day | |
| Australian Associated Press | |
| Thu 14 Sep 2017 01.20 BST | |
| First published on Wed 13 Sep 2017 22.23 BST | |
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| The federal government is considering whether to strip a third Melbourne council of its right to host citizenship ceremonies after it voted to dump Australia Day. | The federal government is considering whether to strip a third Melbourne council of its right to host citizenship ceremonies after it voted to dump Australia Day. |
| Moreland City Council voted on Wednesday night to drop all references to 26 January as Australia Day out of respect for Indigenous people but it stopped short of cancelling its official Australia Day citizenship ceremony. | Moreland City Council voted on Wednesday night to drop all references to 26 January as Australia Day out of respect for Indigenous people but it stopped short of cancelling its official Australia Day citizenship ceremony. |
| One councillor said hosting ceremonies and events on that date was “grossly insensitive” to aboriginal people. “It would be like celebrating the Nazi holocaust,” Socialist Alliance councillor Sue Bolton told the meeting on Wednesday. | One councillor said hosting ceremonies and events on that date was “grossly insensitive” to aboriginal people. “It would be like celebrating the Nazi holocaust,” Socialist Alliance councillor Sue Bolton told the meeting on Wednesday. |
| Alex Hawke, the federal assistant immigration minister, criticised Moreland’s “divisive” decision. “The Turnbull government strongly condemns comparisons of Australia Day with the Nazi Holocaust as deeply offensive to all Australians,” he said in a statement on Thursday. | Alex Hawke, the federal assistant immigration minister, criticised Moreland’s “divisive” decision. “The Turnbull government strongly condemns comparisons of Australia Day with the Nazi Holocaust as deeply offensive to all Australians,” he said in a statement on Thursday. |
| “Already we have stripped councils of the right to administer citizenship where they have violated the Australian citizenship ceremonies code. | “Already we have stripped councils of the right to administer citizenship where they have violated the Australian citizenship ceremonies code. |
| “The government will consider [the] Moreland motion, and the nature of the public debate and consider further action as appropriate.” | “The government will consider [the] Moreland motion, and the nature of the public debate and consider further action as appropriate.” |
| The Turnbull government last month stripped Yarra and Darebin councils of their right to host citizenship ceremonies after councillors voted to shift them away from 26 January. In 2015, Moreland moved its annual citizen awards ceremony to October. | The Turnbull government last month stripped Yarra and Darebin councils of their right to host citizenship ceremonies after councillors voted to shift them away from 26 January. In 2015, Moreland moved its annual citizen awards ceremony to October. |
| The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, last month described Yarra city council’s decision to change the way it commemorates the day was “utterly out of step” with Australian values. “On Australia Day, we recognise the greatness of our achievement as Australians,” Turnbull said in parliament. “To change the date would be to turn our back on Australian values.” | The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, last month described Yarra city council’s decision to change the way it commemorates the day was “utterly out of step” with Australian values. “On Australia Day, we recognise the greatness of our achievement as Australians,” Turnbull said in parliament. “To change the date would be to turn our back on Australian values.” |
| The Australian citizenship ceremonies code says events “must not be used as forums for political, partisan or religious expression”. | The Australian citizenship ceremonies code says events “must not be used as forums for political, partisan or religious expression”. |
| Moreland’s decision to dump the date wasn’t unanimous, with councillors John Kavanagh and Oscar Yildiz speaking out against the move. “For us to reject this day, really means rejecting our own ancestry and customs,” Yildiz told 3AW on Thursday. “I think this is a whole bunch of councillors making a political statement.” | Moreland’s decision to dump the date wasn’t unanimous, with councillors John Kavanagh and Oscar Yildiz speaking out against the move. “For us to reject this day, really means rejecting our own ancestry and customs,” Yildiz told 3AW on Thursday. “I think this is a whole bunch of councillors making a political statement.” |
| The Greens warned the Turnbull government against intimidating the council over its latest decision. Greens senator Rachel Siewert said: “I have no doubt that the federal government will now exercise incredible overreach and try and intimidate the city of Moreland out of this decision.” | The Greens warned the Turnbull government against intimidating the council over its latest decision. Greens senator Rachel Siewert said: “I have no doubt that the federal government will now exercise incredible overreach and try and intimidate the city of Moreland out of this decision.” |
| “Instead of being the big bully, the Turnbull government should reflect on why local councils are taking this step.” | “Instead of being the big bully, the Turnbull government should reflect on why local councils are taking this step.” |
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