Prime Minister Scott Morrison is calling for a new national day to celebrate Indigenous Australians, in an effort to sidestep the growing calls for Australia Day to be moved from January 26.
The prime minister’s suggestion comes after his government took swift action to punish a NSW council for moving its Australia Day festivities – something several Victorian councils did last year.
Byron Shire Council has been stripped of its right to hold citizenship ceremonies, immigration minister David Coleman confirmed in a statement, saying the date should “not be politicized”.
Mr Morrison is now calling for a special day to be set aside to recognize Indigenous Australians and their 60,000 years of history.
He told the Seven network he had "personal views" about which date should be chosen but was interested in the views of the community, the states and business groups.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison insists Australia Day should remain on January 26 but is suggesting a new day to celebrate Indigenous Australians. Source: AAP
"It would be good to have a chat about it. We should think about it. We don't have to pull Australia Day down to actually recognise the achievements of Indigenous Australians, the oldest living culture in the world," he told Seven's Sunrise.
"The two can coexist."
Every year, the government faces growing calls to change the date of Australia Day out of respect for Indigenous Australians. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people feel it is wrong to celebrate a day that marked the beginning of British colonisation in Australia, which led to widespread massacres of Indigenous people and the loss of traditional land ownership.
Ken Wyatt, minister for aged care and the only Indigenous man in the cabinet, said he had raised the suggestion of a new national day to "recognise the oldest continuous living culture" with former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Wyatt said celebrations on Australia Day itself were more about "what we have become" as a nation, rather than a celebration of "settlement" and the First Fleet's arrival at Botany Bay.
The prime minister said that while Australia had a “great national story” it was “not perfect”.
"I also believe we need to honour and acknowledge in our national calendar our Indigenous peoples," he told the Daily Telegraph.
“We know there are things that have happened, like in every country, that have left deep scars, particularly in relation to the treatment and experience of indigenous Australians,” he said.
Protesters march during a protest by Aboriginal rights activist on Australia Day in Melbourne this year 2018. Source: Getty
“Such scars should not provide an invitation for self-loathing, but a reminder of what we have learned and how we have become a better nation.
“In recent years, some have said we should walk away from Australia Day on January 26. For some this comes from a place of deep respect for Indigenous Australians.
“I understand this, but respectfully disagree.”
Mr Morrison on Monday said the "modern Aus nation" began on January 26, 1788 and that was the day to reflect on what the nation had accomplished, become, and still had to achieve.
"Indulgent self-loathing doesn't make Australia stronger," Mr Morrison tweeted on Monday.
"Being honest about the past does."
Byron Mayor Simon Richardson said the celebrations on January 26 caused pain in a section of the community and questioned whether the values of a fair go and mateship were being reflected.
"Is it true mateship to willingly, willfully and continually to celebrate what rightfully is great to be an Australian on a day that some Australians are pained by?" the Greens representative told 3AW on Monday.
The Byron Shire Council mayor Simon Richardson, left, has responded to the PM's tweet denouncing the Australia Day date change. Source: www.byron.nsw.gov.au/AAP
