Seven’s Melissa Doyle has been appointed as the new chair of the Australia Day Council, taking over from musician John Foreman to oversee nationwide celebrations and the Australian of the Year Awards.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the appointment, placing one of Australia’s most trusted broadcasters at the helm of the nation’s story.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Melissa Doyle appointed Australia Day council chair
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“For decades, Australians have trusted Mel to tell Australia’s stories, and now she will take that to the next level in the national interest,” Albanese said.
Doyle helped Australia wake up for more than a decade as a television host, but there’s always been more to her than the trusted face on TV. She has been involved in fundraising, writing and serving the community.
“I can’t wait to share more stories with everybody of who the people are that make us feel incredibly proud,” she said.
“I’m humbled, I’m daunted, I’m excited, every single emotion.”
But it’s a day not without controversy. The Prime Minister is saying the date won’t change, and as for local councils refusing to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26, Doyle said those are conversations she would happily have.
“I think that those individual ones are up to them,” she said.
The government says the number of funded Australia Day events is growing, with 824 across the country. Doyle won’t get to them all, but she’s in the job for the next three years.
