Strathbogie Shire Council is inviting community members to have their say on the future of council’s role in supporting local Australia Day events.
At its December 2024 meeting, council resolved to review its position on the matter, and committed to engage with the broader Strathbogie community, affected community groups, and First Nations representatives.
Following the development of a detailed engagement approach, council is now ready to proceed with the next step: an opt-in community poll and an independent randomised phone poll.
The opt-in poll will be conducted via Share Strathbogie and through hardcopy survey stations with reply paid envelopes and will be open from 1 September to 30 September.
Participation is open to anyone.
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The randomised phone poll will be delivered by independent service provider Oracle and will also be conducted in the month of September.
The randomised phone poll will provide an independent statistically significant dataset to support informed decision making, particularly when coupled with the opt-in poll data.
Mayor Claire Ewart-Kennedy said the process was designed to give everyone an opportunity to share their views.
“This is an important conversation for our community, and we are committed to an inclusive and respectful process,” Cr Ewart-Kennedy said.
“We understand that Australia Day holds different meanings for different people, and we want to ensure all voices are heard as we consider council’s future role in supporting these events.”
Australia Day is a federally recognised public holiday and decisions about changing the date or other political matters sit with the Federal Government, not council.
The local engagement will focus only on matters within council’s control, such as funding, representation, and support for community events.
The opt-in survey can be completed either online at share.strathbogie.vic.gov.au or by hard copy with a reply-paid envelope, available from council service centres and libraries across the shire.
In recent weeks, council has had presentations from the Taungurung Land and Waters Council and Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, as well as from local Australia Day committees and groups that organise events.
A further report will be tabled at October's ordinary council meeting, bringing together both datasets and identifying council’s position moving forward.
“We encourage everyone to take part,” Cr Ewart-Kennedy said.
“This is an opportunity to help shape how Council supports this day moving forward; guided by community sentiment, cultural sensitivity, and transparency.”
For more information, visit: share.strathbogie.vic.gov.au
