Stephen Smith backtracks over UK Australia Day snub after Peter Dutton comments

Australia’s High Commissioner to the UK changed his plans hours after Peter Dutton said “if Stephen Smith is ashamed of Australia Day, he should be on the next flight home”.

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Australia’s top diplomat in London has made an embarrassing backdown on his plans to snub a lavish black-tie Australia Day event in London and he will now attend to deliver a personal message on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Just hours after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton hit out at Australian High Commissioner Stephen Smith for neglecting to hold any events on Australia Day because it falls on a Sunday, in a sudden backflip his plans were overhauled.

It is unclear if Mr Smith was ordered by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to attend the event or whether he made the decision himself to change his plans.

He will now be attending the Britain-Australia Society and the Australian Foundation Trust’s Australia Day gala ball on January 25 at the luxury Peninsula Hotel in London’s Belgravia.

No reasons were given as to why he made the sudden change to his diary and his whereabouts on January 26 still remain a mystery.

High Commissioner of Australia to the United Kingdom Stephen Smith. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

The High Commission was asked specifically whether Mr Smith has any plans on January 26– even privately – but a spokesman declined to comment, nor provide details of what engagements, if any, he has locked in.

“The High Commissioner has now been able to rearrange official travel plans in order to attend the Australia Day Gala dinner on Saturday 25 January for the purpose of delivering a personal message from the Prime Minister to the dinner,” a High Commission spokesman said.

News Corp revealed on Thursday that Mr Smith would not be holding any events on Australia Day in London to mark the day, instead avoiding altogether.

Mr Dutton said Mr Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong should direct Mr Smith to “celebrate Australia Day on the day with great pride.”

“The Prime Minister owns this as the UK High Commissioner was his captain’s pick,” Mr Dutton said.

“And the PM should pick up the phone and sort this out today.

“What other developed country refuses to acknowledge its national day?

“If Stephen Smith is ashamed of Australia Day, he should be on the next flight home.”

Peter Dutton has slammed top Australian diplomat Stephen Smith over Australia Day snub. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

The move to avoid events on January 26 has been described as a way of shifting the date of national celebrations by stealth, amid protests from some First Nations groups.

Mr Smith caused controversy last year when the Australia Day celebrations in London including the gala dinner would no longer be held at the Australian High Commission.

He was later criticised by deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles who said there would be an Australia Day function on Australia Day.

Mr Smith – a former Labor minister who has been Australia’s UK High Commissioner since 2023 – will host three invitation-only events at Australia House during the week leading up to January 26.

Reasons for no events being held on January 26 include that the day falls on a Sunday and it’s quieter in London and more difficult to attract people to functions.

Events being held on weekdays are believed to get better value attendance rates and value for money.

An Australian High Commission spokesman was asked if the decision to avoid events on January 26 had anything to do with controversy surrounding the date.

“No. The decision making process was led by the desire to maximise UK attendance and to provide value for money,“ the spokesman said.

“The Australian High Commission in London looks forward to hosting several events to mark Australia Day 2025”.

The Britain-Australia Society and the Australian Foundation Trust will hold this year’s sellout gala ball and the Society’s chief executive officer Louise Mulley said the occasion will mark a forward-thinking approach to a progressive Australia and it will not celebrate the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788.

“Our recognition of ‘Australia Day’ is through our involvement in the Australia Day Gala being held on 25 January in London which is not commemorating the landing of the First Fleet on 26 January but, rather, is an event which is a modern, forward thinking, diverse and inclusive celebration of Australia and all Australians,” she said.

Celebrate Australia campaigner Jason Bryant, a former Australian Federal Police officer, was unimpressed by the snub.

“The decision made by our government is extremely disappointing. Our country is becoming more divided and it’s crucial that we stand united as one,“ he said.

“We love this country and cherish the freedoms and prosperity we all enjoy.”

In recent years controversy has continued about whether January 26 is the most appropriate date to celebrate Australia Day.

Results from a 2024 Ipsos poll showed that 48 per cent of Australians said it should not be changed, while 27 per cent felt it should be moved.