Calls to pull down a number of Sydney monuments honouring key figures in Australian history have been slammed as ‘Taliban-like’.
Statues of Captain Cook and Arthur Phillip have come under scrutiny because of their association with the ‘discovering’ of Australia.
But suggestions to remove the monuments have been met with resistance from Shooters and Fishers MP Robert Borsak, who labelled the idea as ‘Taliban-like’.
Aboriginal leader Warren Mundine suggested a continued push to rectify history was a ‘Stalinist approach’.
Calls to pull down a number of Sydney monuments honouring key figures in Australian history have been slammed as ‘taliban-like’
Aboriginal leader Warren Mundine, suggested a continued push to rectify history to a ‘Stalinist approach’
‘What’s going to be next? Are they going to tear down the Anzac memorials in every municipal park in Australia?’ Mr Borsak asked the The Daily Telegraph.
The idea was brought to public attention when indigenous ABC journalist Stan Grant hit out at the wording chosen on the base of Cook’s statue which says the British explorer ‘discovered this territory in 1770’.
He was enraged that the inscription made no reference to the existence of Aboriginal people who lived in the country before the arrival of the British.
He also attacked on Arthur Phillip, the first governor of NSW, and his comments will be submitted to Mayor Clover Moore for consideration.
‘The Lord Mayor has referred Stan Grant’s comments to the City of Sydney’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory panel for their consideration and advice,’ Ms Moore’s spokesman said.
Yet several public figures have spoken out regarding the suggestions to edit or remove the iconic landmarks.
The idea was brought to public attention when indigenous ABC journalist Stan Grant hit out at the wording chosen on the base of Cook’s statue which says the British explorer ‘discovered this territory in 1770.’
A statue of Arthur Phillip, the first governor of NSW has also been attacked as comments will be submitted to Mayor Clover Moore for consideration
‘The City of Sydney should focus on working for its ratepayers and not rewriting history,’ Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton said.
Liberal Upper House MP Peter Phelps said men such as Cook and Phillip should be lauded as icons.
‘Attempts to rewrite our public history for the sake of political correctness — which is what these activist want to do — is little better than Stalin erasing his political opponent from photographs.’
Mr Mundine was in agreement who instead suggested for a different approach, erecting monuments to indigenous people.
‘All this nonsense about changing things — we cannot look back at history with our modern minds otherwise we would have to tear down the pyramids because they were built by slaves,’ said Mr Mundine.