Steve Christou slams council for flying Australia Day banners with other celebrations

Cumberland City Councillor Steve Christou has criticised the council for failing to exclusively fly Australia Day banners in its town centres, opting instead to share the space with flags for Lunar New Year and Pongal throughout January.

Christou expressed his “dismay” after noticing no Australia Day banners in Merrylands town centre early last week, despite seeing flags promoting the Tamil harvest festival, Pongal.

“I was shocked to walk through Merrylands town centre… and see that there were no Australia Day banners being displayed,” he said.

“Banners advertising Pongal celebrations were on display and flying high.”

“In my opinion, not flying the flags for a prolonged period and having them up with other celebrations is watering down a significant event,” Christou said.

Australia Day needs to be celebrated exclusively.

I am disappointed that other banners promoting other celebrations were prioritised with Australia Day Banners being erected last Friday and are sharing a space with other celebrations.

In contrast Canterbury Bankstown Council… pic.twitter.com/xMUJ2yZTOU

— Councillor Steve Christou (@ChristouSteve) January 23, 2025

He questioned, “Why are we not celebrating it exclusively?” Christou, who represents Granville ward, argued that while the council should celebrate its multiculturalism, it should never come at the expense of Australia Day.

“Australia Day should not be muddled up with anything else,” he said.

“When the community sees this kind of stuff, it’s what causes division and tarnishes our national identity.”

In contrast, Christou pointed to Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown councils, which had flown Australia Day banners exclusively for over three weeks.

Cumberland Mayor Ola Hamed responded, saying she was proud to lead a community that “lives in harmony side-by-side.”

She reminded Christou that the council had resolved in March 2022 to expand its events program to include more cultural celebrations, a motion Christou had supported.

“This practice also took place when he was mayor,” Hamed noted.

Source: Daily Telegraph.