Communications minister Mitch Fifield has asked Triple J to reconsider playing their Hottest 100 countdown on Australia Day because ‘relatively few people have a problem with it.’
The ABC radio station announced they would move their hugely popular countdown from January 26 after a survey revealed 60 percent of listeners supported changing it.
Mr Fifield called the decision ‘dumb’ and ‘an attempt to de-legitimise Australia Day’ despite the fact indigenous musicians and the Greens have welcomed the idea, Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Mitch Fifield (pictured) called the decision ‘dumb’ and ‘an attempt to de-legitimise Australia Day’
Triple J’s Hottest 100 countdown has been moved from its January 26th slot following increasing debate around the celebration of Australia Day
‘And what Triple J and the ABC have done is to respond to a petition which has said it’s not appropriate to have the Hottest 100 on the controversial Australia Day. There’s nothing controversial about Australia Day,’ he said.
Meanwhile Greens senator Rachel Siewert said the change means ‘everyone in Australia can now enjoy the countdown on a date that doesn’t cause harm and hurt to our First Peoples.’
The announcement was made by the ABC on Monday, with the musical tradition now taking place on the fourth weekend of January.
Voting will open six weeks before the day.
‘It should be an event that everyone can enjoy together – for both the musicians whose songs make it in and for everyone listening in Australia and around the world,’ the ABC said.
The announcement was made by the ABC on Monday, following a series of surveys stating that as many as 60 per cent of people were in favour of a change in date
It will now be held on the fourth Saturday of January, after careful consideration to the significance of Australia Day to Aboriginal people
Nearly 65,000 people voted in the first survey issued by the station, which showed three in five people preferred a new date.
While a second online poll of 18 to 30-year-old’s revealed more than half supported the idea.
The new date was chosen after careful consideration to retain the event’s summer history and ‘keep all the best bits you love about the Hottest 100’.
Nearly 65,000 people voted in the first survey issued by the station, which showed three in five people preferred a new date
It will also include a second countdown of the 200-101 votes, with those to be aired on the following Sunday.
Despite celebrating on January 26th since 1998, there have been times in the event’s history where the date has changed.
The first countdown in 1989 was held at the beginning of March, while January 25th was trialled as an alternate in 2004.
As for Australia Day, special programming and homegrown music will form a large part of the station’s scheduled broadcast.
It is unsure whether future Hottest 100 events will be held on the Saturday or Sunday however, with the station asserting it will ‘again be on the fourth weekend of January’ in 2019, despite Australia Day falling then.
It is unsure whether future Hottest 100 events will be held on the Saturday or Sunday however, with the station asserting it will ‘again be on the fourth weekend of January’ in 2019, despite Australia Day falling then
People flocked to social media following the announcement, with some slamming the decision to move (top) and others praising the decision to alter the date
People flocked to social media following the announcement, with some slamming the decision to move.
‘Damn. Has been a huge tradition to have an Australia day Hottest 100 party. Don’t know what to do now,’ one person wrote.
While another annoyed user said: ‘It’s tradition to have #Hottest100 on Australia Day, stop pandering to minorities’.
Others firmly supported the decision and revealed they would continue to celebrate the countdown on its new date.
One person stated: ‘So great Triple J is moving #Hottest100. Wish it was done earlier – Aboriginal artists and listeners have been pushing the move for YEARS!’
‘It’s not about left or right. It’s about compassion. If you’re proud to be Australian, you cant be proud to celebrate the nation on a day our Indigenous people mourn,’ another added.
A second online poll of 18 to 30-year-old’s revealed more than half supported the idea of changing the countdown’s date
It will also include a second countdown of the 200-101 votes, with those to be aired on the following Sunday