Much debate surrounded the date of Australia Day in the Blue Mountains City Council chambers last week.
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Cr Brendan Christie put forward that council support Australia Day ceremonies on January 26, despite pressure from the mayor to withdraw the motion. His motion was defeated.
Mayor Mark Greenhill argued it was an issue for national debate, not a council issue. His mayoral minute keeping council’s citizen arrangements in their current form and that council write to the Australian Local Government Association to ask the federal government to initiate a national conversation on the matter was adopted.
“The only reason I brought this resolution forward tonight was because of the other insensitive resolution. The people of the Blue Mountains expect us to express a sensitivity about Australia Day,” Cr Greenhill said.
Liberal councillors Christie, Daniel Myles, Kevin Schreiber and Chris Van der Kley all voted against.
An amended motion acknowledging the mayoral minute and Cr Christie’s original motion was adopted.
