'Left-wing activists' to blame for end of Fremantle's Australia Day fireworks: Ben Morton
Updated
Left-wing activists are to blame for families missing out on Australia Day fireworks in Fremantle this year, Federal Liberal MP Ben Morton says.
Last year a group of local businesses paid for an Australia Day fireworks display in Fremantle after the local council decided not to celebrate Australia Day, saying it offended some Aboriginal people.
But this year the group, known as Fremantle Business Improvement District, has decided not to pay for a display.
The ABC understands the decision was made after the group received significant online criticism for putting on last year's show.
Mr Morton said it was "a great shame".
"No doubt the business owners who have tried to do the right thing last year put up with an enormous amount of flak from left-wing activists and they've made a decision not to proceed this year," Mr Morton said.
"Very many families that enjoy those fireworks will now miss out."
Council pleased fireworks won't happen
But Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said he was pleased with the outcome.
'This year I know that the board of the BID, who are independent from the council, decided not to go ahead [with fireworks]," Mr Pettit said.
"I think that's a good decision.
"There's no doubt that there's been a lot of debate around this issue and I think there's been certainly growing support around looking at alternatives to January 26 as a day that we can celebrate our nation."
The City of Fremantle hosted what it called a culturally inclusive celebration on January 28 last year.
15,000 people attended it and the city is putting it on again this year.
"I think we showed that actually you can do much better things with that money than 20 minutes of fireworks," Mr Pettitt said.
Australian singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke will be the headline act for this year's One Day in Fremantle event.
Topics: national-days, community-and-society, australia-day, federal-government, local-government, fremantle-6160
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