The decision by the City of Greater Geelong to restore Australia Day celebrations is a powerful rejection of the divisive activism stoked by the Albanese Labor government.
I congratulate Mayor Stretch Kontelj and the councillors who have stood up to protect and celebrate our national day. I urge all councils to follow their lead.
Following a sham consultation, Greater Geelong’s decision in May 2023 to abandon local celebrations and not even acknowledge Australia Day was a disgrace. I am delighted that a new council has been elected which is prepared to get back to basics and put the community first.
Australia Day is a time to unite and celebrate our shared values and achievements, not divide.
Yet, under Labor, this important day is steadily being eroded.
By allowing councils to cancel citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, Prime Minister Albanese is actively undermining the significance of our national day.
The Coalition is committed to reversing Labor’s damaging changes and restoring citizenship ceremonies to their rightful place on Australia Day.
By not standing up for Australia Day, Corio MP Richard Marles and Corangamite MP Libby Coker have shown how out of touch they are with our community.
Australians love our country and are fed up with bowing to woke agendas and divisive identity politics.
Under Peter Dutton’s leadership, a core mission of a future Coalition government is to build national pride in our great country which is why we will fight to protect our traditions in the best interests of all Australians.