The City of Melbourne will advocate to change the date of Australia Day.

A majority of councillors voted to push the federal government for change this week.

At the council meeting it was also decided that while citizenship ceremonies will happen on January 26, the council will also support efforts to acknowledge First Nations perspectives of the day.

Permits for Australia Day celebrations around the city will still be granted.

A recent survey of 1,600 Melbourne residents showed almost 60 per cent support changing the date, as do the five traditional owner organisations that make up the Eastern Kulin nation.

Seven councillors including Lord Mayor Sally Capp voted in favour of the motion, two voted against and one abstained.

Cr Capp says the council can “chew gum and walk at the same time” delivering services while also expanding its advocacy.

“We can deliver on roads, rates and rubbish but we can also advocate in this case to Commonwealth government,” she told the council meeting.

“We have listened to what our traditional owners say, to what our constituents say. We have had a significant sample size in the survey that we've done and we have the results.

“We represent the values and beliefs of our constituents, that is an important role that we play and that's a big part of the debate this evening.”

It will be a difficult lobbying effort for the city, given that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has already ruled out changing the date.

Councillor Roshena Campbell says pursuing the issue is a waste of resources.

“Ultimately, this is a federal government issue but it's far from clear cut to say a majority of Australians support changing the date,” she told ABC Radio Melbourne.

“It's far from clear cut to say a majority of Indigenous people or even a majority of constituents in the City of Melbourne [support changing the date].”