They Chose Australia: Immigrant Councillors Open the Door to Australia Day's Return
Family First Party
KEY FACTS:
• Melbourne City Council debates a motion on Tuesday 25 August to boost funding for Melbourne Day celebrations, raise the Melbourne flag around the city and add activations across the city (Herald Sun, 22 August 2026)
• The motion was moved by Councillor Philip Le Liu and seconded by Councillor Rafael Camillo, and is the first of a two-part campaign building support for a motion to restore Australia Day
• Councillor Camillo told the Herald Sun: “I’m proud to be an immigrant, alongside my colleague Mr Philip Le Liu. We both came to this country seeking opportunity, and we both found a home in Melbourne”
• Melbourne Day is celebrated on 30 August, marking the founding of modern Melbourne
• Australia Day has been gone from the council for four years; in 2022, under former Lord Mayor Sally Capp, the council voted to stop recognising 26 January and join the campaign to change the date
• Councillor Le Liu pledged in June to restore the council’s Australia Day celebrations, declaring “it is time for change here at the City of Melbourne”
• Background: “New council vote on ‘Melbourne Day’ sets up clash over Australia Day’s return”, Herald Sun, 22 August 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
24 August 2026
They Chose Australia: Immigrant Councillors Open the Door to Australia Day’s Return
Family First’s Jane Foreman says Tuesday night’s Melbourne Day motion at Melbourne City Council is the first step back towards Australia Day, and that the two councillors who moved it, both immigrants, have made the case for celebrating this country better than anyone born here has managed in four years.
The motion, moved by Councillor Philip Le Liu and seconded by Councillor Rafael Camillo, asks the council to boost funding for Melbourne Day on 30 August, raise the Melbourne flag around the city and add activations across the municipality. It is the first of two parts, with a motion to restore Australia Day to follow. Australia Day has been gone from Town Hall for four years, since the council voted in 2022 to stop recognising 26 January and joined the campaign to change the date.
Mr Camillo told the Herald Sun it was powerful that the change was being brought by two immigrants, saying he and Mr Le Liu both came to this country seeking opportunity and both found a home in Melbourne. Mrs Foreman says that is the case for a national day, put by the two people best placed to put it.
“Two men, who arrived here owed nothing, are the ones asking this council to celebrate the country that took them in,” said Mrs Foreman. “Mr Le Liu and Mr Camillo chose Australia. They know what it gave them and they are not embarrassed to say so. Every councillor who has spent four years apologising for 26 January should read their motion and think again.”
“Melbourne Day on Tuesday is the first step and Australia Day is where this is heading,” Mrs Foreman said. “26 January is where this nation started and it is the foundation we build the next hundred years on. A council that will fly a flag for the founding of its city can fly one for the founding of its country. Family First will back every councillor who votes to bring it back.”
Family First is calling on Melbourne City Council to pass Tuesday’s Melbourne Day motion, and to bring the Australia Day motion to the chamber with a date attached, so official celebrations are running on 26 January 2027 and Melburnians know where every councillor stands before November’s state election.
Mrs Foreman says a council that has spent four years at odds with the nation’s own day is further proof Victoria needs Family First’s genuinely independent voice in the Legislative Council after November, because families should not need a council resolution before they can celebrate their own country.
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About Family First
Family First exists to restore Australia by restoring the primacy of the family in public policy. This will be achieved through a grass roots political party which raises courageous voices in our nation’s parliaments. More details are available on our website: https://www.familyfirstparty.org.au/
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Jane Foreman - Family First Legislative Council Candidate
