Alice Springs Mayor Asta Hill has announced she will not participate in the Alice Springs citizenship ceremony on January 26, saying she does not want to play a role on a day that causes 'harm' to parts of the community.
Ms Hill, who was elected Mayor on a Greens ticket last year, says her decision is a personal one grounded in her values.
"For many First Nations people, this is a day of mourning," Ms Hill said in a statement.
"While I do not intend to stand in the way of others' celebrations, I do not personally want to play a formal role on a day that causes harm to parts of our community."
The Alice Springs Town Council has confirmed the Australia Day citizenship ceremony will go ahead and will instead be conducted by Deputy Mayor Allison Bitar.
Ms Hill says her decision aligns with her view that Australia Day should not be celebrated on 26 January.
"January 26 means a range of different things to people across our community," she said.
"[It] is not the right date to celebrate our national day."
"I welcome respectful conversations about this matter and am committed to exploring how we can move forward with respect."
The NT Greens party have endorsed Ms Hill's decision.
"We hope that Mayor Hill's decision encourages people across the Northern Territory to reflect on the complex history of colonisation and its ongoing impacts on First Nations people," a spokesperson said in a statement.
The decision has drawn criticism from Independent MP Robyn Lambley, the Speaker of the NT legislative assembly, who called Ms Hill's decision "disgraceful".
"As the new mayor, who hasn't been around as mayor for Australia Day, she is making the wrong call," Ms Lambley said on Wednesday.
Ms Hill made history last year as the first Greens-backed candidate to be elected as Mayor of Alice Springs.
Her campaign centred around "changing the story" of Alice Springs, after years of crime-focused national media coverage over the town.
