Council launches community poll on Australia Day support
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 this matter, committing to engagement 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: a opt in community poll, and an independent randomised phone poll.
The opt-in Community Poll will be conducted via Share Strathbogie and through hard copy survey stations with reply paid envelopes and will be open from 1 September to 30 September, anyone can participate in this poll. The randomised phone poll will be delivered by Oracle, an independent service provider and will also be conducted in the month of September. The randomised phone poll will provide Council with an independent statistically significant data set to support informed decision making, particularly when coupled with the community opt-in poll data set.
Mayor Claire Ewart-Kennedy said the process is 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,” Mayor 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. Decisions about changing the date or other political matters sit with the Federal Government, not Council. This local engagement will focus only on matters within Council’s control, such as funding, representation and support for community events.
Poll Questions
The poll will ask three key questions:
- To what extent do you support Council providing support to local community groups for events that acknowledge or celebrate Australia Day?
- To what extent do you support Councillors and Council staff participating in an official capacity in community events that acknowledge or celebrate Australia Day?
- Do you have any other comments about Council’s future involvement in Australia Day events
Community members can participate in the opt-in community poll by completing the survey online at share.strathbogie.vic.gov.au or by collecting a hard copy with a reply-paid envelope 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 Council report will be tabled at the October Council Meeting, bringing together both data sets and identifying Council’s position moving forward.
“We encourage everyone to take part,” Mayor 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 and to participate in the poll, visit: share.strathbogie.vic.gov.au from 1 September to 30 September, 2025.