Stephen Smith’s Australia Day snub “damaged” the nation’s relationship with the UK 

Despite backflipping, Stephen Smith’s Australia Day snub has caused damage, with some describing it as an “insult”. See why.

EXCLUSIVE

Australia’s relationship with the UK has been “damaged” by our Ambassador’s original “bewildering” decision to boycott the most significant national event of the year.

News Corp has seen explosive email correspondence between the Australia Foundation and Britain-Australia Society, where organisers of a lavish black-tie event to celebrate Australia Day slammed Stephen Smith’s snub.

It can also be revealed Mr Smith will not be holding any events on Australia Day in London and his whereabouts on the day remain unknown, despite his office being repeatedly asked.

Mr Smith backflipped – amid a barrage of criticism – last week and agreed to attend the gala on January 25, but the business community said his relationship with them had become “fairly toxic”.

High Commissioner of Australia to the United Kingdom, Stephen Smith, has “damaged” Australia’s relationship with the UK, according to Bill Muirhead. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

“He’s definitely damaged the relationship here between the Australian community and Australia House,” Australia Foundation trustee and former advertising executive Bill Muirhead said.

“The whole thing is depressing”.

Another insider said he was “bewildered” by Mr Smith’s original decision to bypass the bilateral relations event and said when he finishes his posting as High Commissioner next year, “we’ll be left to pick up the pieces”.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton last week went further, saying: “If Stephen Smith is ashamed of Australia Day, he should be on the next flight home”.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said: “If Stephen Smith is ashamed of Australia Day, he should be on the next flight home”. Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

In the email correspondence obtained by News Corp, private conversations between the organisers of the event lay bare their incredulity at Mr Smith’s negative RSVP, six months after he was invited, describing it as an “insult” and “disappointing”.

In the emails, the organisers said the gala would be the “single biggest Australian event in the UK in 2025” and it was “very poor form” for Mr Smith to decline an invitation.

Mr Smith will now be attending the sold-out event at the five-star Peninsula Hotel at Belgravia in London on January 25 and will deliver a personal message from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the dinner.

The Britain-Australia Society’s chairman Damian Walsh said he was “pleased” the High Commissioner could now attend the gala.

“With 410 guests, this will be the biggest Australian event in the UK this year and I would have been very disappointed if the High Commissioner was not able to attend,” Mr Walsh said.

The dinner was cancelled last year for the first time in 20 years at short notice, after negotiations with Australia House broke down.

A High Commission spokeswoman declined to answer a series of questions but said in a statement: “The High Commissioner will host three Australia Day events, and has also been able to rearrange travel plans to attend the (gala) event.”