Tony Abbott has slammed Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s push to have a second Australia Day specifically for Indigenous Australians.
The ex-PM argued January 26 was a day for ‘all Australians’ and said it would not be right to exclude Indigenous people from the traditional celebrations.
‘I think these days we are all very proud of the fact that we do have an indigenous heritage, we want it to be honoured and celebrated,’ Mr Abbott told 2GB.
‘I don’t think there is any desire on the part of anyway to exclude Aboriginal people from the celebration of Australia Day.’
Tony Abbot (pictured) has slammed Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s push to have a second Australia Day, specifically for Indigenous Australians, to commemorate the country
Mr Abbott argued January 26 was a day for ‘all Australians’ and said it would not be right to exclude Indigenous people from the traditional celebrations (Scott Morrison pictured)
‘Australia is a country with an indigenous heritage, a British foundation and a migrant character … and that indigenous heritage is one of the three great pillars on which modern Australia is built.’
The former prime minister and current special envoy on indigenous affairs added that he thought emphasis should remain on ‘all pulling together on Australia Day’.
‘There are acknowledgments for country in all sorts of very important contexts these days. But Australia Day is a day for everyone,’ he said.
Mr Morrison announced his plan to introduce a new national day for Indigenous Australians on Monday.
Mr Morrison announced his plan to introduce a new national day for Indigenous Australians on Monday (pictured Indigenous Australians at ‘invasion day’ rally)
Changing the date from January 26 has been a topic of debate for some time, and it seems 2018 could be the year things change.
Mr Morrison proposed 60,000 years of indigenous history be honoured in a separate ceremonious day to celebrate the country’s traditional owners.
The Daily Telegraph reported he acknowledged past actions had left ‘deep scars’ in relation to the treatment of indigenous Australians.
‘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,’ Mr Morrison said.
The Daily Telegraph reported he acknowledged past actions had left ‘deep scars’ in relation to the treatment of indigenous Australians
Following news that Byron Shire Council, in northern New South Wales, proposed to change the date of Australia Day, Mr Morrison took to Facebook to weigh in.
Poll
Should Australia Day’s date be changed from January 26?
- Yes 38 votes
- No 270 votes
He described the change as ‘indulgent self-loathing’ and said it ‘does not make us stronger’.
Mr Morrison has since cancelled Byron Shire Council’s authority to conduct citizenship ceremonies altogether.
He urges that although Australia has a ‘great national story’, the country’s history is ‘not perfect’.
Mr Morrison said he understands that the fight to change Australia Day’s date comes from a deep respect for Australia’s indigenous people.
‘I understand this, but respectfully disagree,’ he said.
‘I also believe we need to honour and acknowledge in our national calendar our indigenous peoples,’ he said.
He said he believed working together would bring Australians together, rather than cause more conflict.
The Facebook post soon became a hot-bed of discussion as voters weighed in on the dividing issue
In his Facebook post expressing his frustration towards Byron Shire Council’s changes, Mr Morrison stated his firm position on the matter.
‘We should not rewrite our history. Our modern Australian nation began on January 26, 1788,’ Mr Morrison wrote.
‘That is the day to reflect on what we’ve accomplished, what we’ve become and what we still have to achieve.’
The Prime Minister quickly ensured that the council no longer had the authority to conduct citizenship ceremonies, and described their rewriting of the rules as ‘political football’.