Adelaide Hills Council has reversed its 2023 decision to boycott Australia Day, meaning residents will once again be able to hold citizenship ceremonies and community events on 26 January from 2027. The original ban, which had removed all official recognition of the date, was introduced without public consultation and drew sustained criticism from local residents, prompting councillors to revisit the policy this week.

Councillors voted 10 to 1 on Tuesday to overturn key parts of the earlier resolution, following a motion from Councillor Adrian Cheater, who said the 2023 decision had been made without properly engaging the community. Under the revised approach, new citizens and award recipients who prefer not to be recognised on Australia Day will still be able to choose an alternative date. Adelaide Hills, home to around 42,875 residents, was one of more than 60 Australian councils that had stopped holding official Australia Day events, citing concerns among First Nations residents, and Mayor Nathan Daniell said the reversal reflects a willingness to learn from experience while remaining respectful of differing views on the date.