Russell Crowe has added his voice to the growing opposition to the current date of Australia Day – saying he is celebrating the occasion a day early.
The Academy Award winner took to Twitter on Thursday afternoon to address the issue and urging the country to find a solution for everyone.
‘I’m going to say Happy Australia Day today, on a different date,’ Crowe said.
‘Take away the contention , let’s have a date we can all embrace.’
Russell Crowe has added his voice to the growing opposition to the current date of Australia Day – saying he is celebrating the occasion a day early
The Academy Award winner took to Twitter on Thursday afternoon to address the issue and urging the country to find a solution for everyone
‘I’m going to say Happy Australia Day today, on a different date,’ Crowe said. ‘Take away the contention , let’s have a date we can all embrace’
The 53-year-old, who was born in New Zealand but immigrated to Australia when he was four and identifies western Sydney as his home, often uses his social media accounts to address issues and criticism.
Recently Crowe shut down rumours of a relationship with Terri Irwin through Twitter, slamming the gossip magazines in the process.
He also attacked the humans right issue of detention centres, offering solutions to the crisis and even offering a home for asylum seekers.
‘Manus. A Nations shame. Lives held in limbo . Lives lived in fear & despair . It’s f***ing disgraceful,’ he tweeted last year.
‘I’ve thought about this. I believe I could house and find jobs for six. I’m sure there’d be other Australians who would do the same.’
Crowe has now turned his attention to Australia Day, or ‘Invasion Day’ as it is now being referred to by many who believe the day celebrates a dark and injust chapter of the nation’s history.
‘We should be sensitive enough to recognise all those who have lived in this land before us , if you live here , you belong to them , and they to you,’ he posted to Twitter on Thursday.
The intense debate has seen statues vandalised across Australia, forcing politicians into addressing the growing divide
The intense debate has seen statues vandalised across Australia, forcing politicians into addressing the growing divide.
Three inner-city Melbourne councils – Darebin, Moreland and Yarra – took matters into their own hands and refused to celebrate the day last year to support a changing of the date.
The Victorian Opposition has promised to pass new laws allowing the state government to sack councils who refuse to celebrate Australia day.
The state Coalition plan would force unpatriotic local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26 and celebrate the national day.