‘What is this lunacy?’: Former Cumberland mayor Steve Christou says residents reject hostility to Australia Day

Migrant communities in Western Sydney reject attacks on Australia Day, a former mayor has said.

Steve Christou from Cumberland City Council spoke to Sky News Australia about the confusion and anger Western Sydney residents have expressed to him about attacks on Australia Day.

This follows reports of Network Ten telling staff January 26 was “not a day for celebration”, and the Albanese government removing a rule requiring local councils to hold Australia Day citizenship ceremonies.

“The message I get loud and clear from our residents is ‘what is this lunacy?’” Mr Christou said.

“Who are these people to tell us not to be proud of the country we have adopted?”

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The Cumberland City Councillor and former mayor said his council, which covers suburbs from Lidcombe to Girraween, has one of the highest population of migrants in the country.

“Our council has the second most diverse community in New South Wales,” he said

“These people have come from migrant backgrounds, refugees, traumatised backgrounds.”

“They have become citizens and they love Australia Day. They love the fact that it’s January 26 and they’re proud to be Australians.

When asked about the Albanese government’s recent decision to remove a rule requiring local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, Mr Christou said it was “another example of the Labor Party hating our way of life and our traditions.”

“The Labour Party is beholden to the Greens because they need their votes in the Senate, and we see this every week with the decisions they’re making – they’re not traditional Labor Party decisions.”

Mr Christou said Cumberland City Council would “absolutely” be holding a citizenship ceremony on Australia Day.

“We’re going to have citizenship ceremonies in the morning and then we’ll be at Holroyd Gardens at 6:00 and having a massive Australia Day event, barbeques, food stalls, face painting, the works.”