A shade over 5000 people bothered to turn up to vote in October’s Town of Cambridge election. That’s a participation rate of under 26 per cent.
The people of Cambridge aren’t alone in their less than-enthusiastic approach to local government. In Victoria Park, 6877 ballots were cast, for a turnout of 28 per cent of eligible voters.
It’s a scenario repeated all over the State. There are only a handful of local councils which can boast voter turnout greater than 50 per cent.
And yet it’s been left up to the members of these local councils, some of whom were elected with just a few hundred votes, to decide how — or if — Australians should celebrate their national day.
At least a dozen Perth councils, including Wanneroo, Cambridge, Fremantle, Rockingham and Victoria Park have down-scaled or cancelled their Australia Day celebrations, in recognition of the opposition felt by many to celebrating a day which marks the colonial milestone of the landing of the First Fleet.
Last year, the Albanese Government gave councils the option of moving their Australia Day ceremonies to within three days before and after the public holiday.
But it’s a responsibility the councils themselves say they could do without.
Geraldton Mayor Jerry Clune said the Commonwealth was taking the “wimp” route by washing its hands of the issue.
“They need to take the leadership on it. It’s a bit of a cop out from the Federal government to say you can do it three days either side of the date,” he said.
Mr Albanese is coy on whether he supports Australia Day remaining on January 26. When asked directly by The West Australian, his office reiterated that the Government had “no plans” to change the date.
Of course, having “no plans” to change the date is a long way from supporting the status quo.
So instead of taking the plunge and making a call as the leader of the country, Mr Albanese will continue to take the softly, softly approach, outsourcing the work of focus-grouping the change to councils and corporates.
Many believe a changed date is inevitable. By refusing to rip off the Band-Aid now, Mr Albanese’s Government is contributing to further cementing division and stoking the fires of the culture wars which have dogged us for decades.
One only needs to look at the furore caused by Woolworths Group’s decision to not sell Australia Day merchandise — ostensibly a commercial decision in the face of falling demand — as an example of that.
Australians have plenty of which to be proud. We are a peaceful, stable society with living standards among the highest in the world.
And like almost every nation, our history also has very dark chapters, which we must never forget.
We should have a national day on which all of us — Indigenous and non-indigenous alike — can be proud.
Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by WAN Editor-in-Chief Anthony De Ceglie