Indigenous leaders slam move to shift Australia Day as ‘divisive’ nonsense

INDIGENOUS leaders have hit out at NSW councils over “divisive” plans to scrap Australia Day, amid claims that the national celebration applauds genocide.

• Greens declare war on Australia Day
• Blacktown elder says Australia Day should stay

INDIGENOUS leaders have slammed councils over “divisive” plans to scrap Australia Day, amid inflammatory claims that the national January 26 celebration applauds genocide.

The push to axe Australia Day in NSW, led by the Greens and supported in part by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, has also been strongly criticised by Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton who dismissed the attempt to “rewrite history”.

NSW Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton has dismissed the push to axe Australia Day as an attempt to rewrite history.

Blacktown indigenous elder Gordon Workman. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Blacktown indigenous elder Gordon Workman bluntly described moves to scrap or move the day as divisive nonsense.

“Changing the date ain’t going to change history,” said the former president of the Darug Tribal Corporation.

“If a few people out there want to big note themselves they’re welcome, but to me it’s ridiculous.”

His comments were backed up by an indigenous elder in Darebin, one of the Victorian councils stripped of its citizenship powers for dumping the national day in favour of the “Darebin Community Awards”.

Blacktown Aboriginal elder Uncle Gordon Workman says councillors cancelling Australia Day celebrations are just big noting themselves. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Wurundjeri elder Ian Hunter.

“This was a few individuals saying ‘We know best’,” said Wurundjeri elder Ian Hunter, who performs indigenous ceremonies for the northern Melbourne council.

“Who did they consult? We are all Australians.

“We put our differences aside and go forward as one.”

Despite the federal government stripping Darebin and fellow Victorian local government of their citizenship powers over the issue, Lismore and Byron councils are among those in NSW to have recently drawn up plans to change or axe Australia Day. Lismore recently passed a Greens motion saying it will work toward “culturally inclusive Australia Day celebrations” and to “identify more appropriate dates for holding Lismore citizenship ceremonies”.

Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson.

Lismore Mayor Isaac Smith. Picture: Mike Batterham

After consultation, the council planned to write to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and state and federal colleagues urging them to change the day.

Byron Mayor Simon Richardson, who is in talks with aboriginal elders over similar plans, said: “If they are supportive I will move a motion for what I believe will be a respectful, honourable and inclusive change.”

Assistant Immigration Minister Alex Hawke wrote to Lismore Labor Mayor Isaac Smith yesterday, warning if the council continues to “delegitimise citizenship ceremonies by including them in anti-Australia Day rhetoric” the council will be stripped of the right to award citizenship.

Ms Moore, whose City of Sydney council officially describes the arrival of the British First Fleet as an “invasion”, wants to retain a national day of celebration but describes January 26 as “grossly insensitive and inappropriate”.

Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon added: “January 26 marks the beginning of what is now widely regarded as genocide, it’s a national day of mourning and it isn’t something to celebrate with a barbecue and beer.”

But Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak responded: “There was no genocide in Australia for the aboriginal people. January 26 recognises Australia Day for all Australians. It is the foundation of modern Australia.”

Many others strongly disagree with the push for change, including Blue Mountains Labor Mayor Mark Greenhill who said “not at my council” when asked if he would consider switching Australia Day.

Waverley indigenous councillor Dominic Wy Kanak supports debate about moving away from January 26: “Because of the association with invasion and colonisation obviously it’s an emotionally-charged date.”

But Waverley Mayor Sally Betts said she has “no intention of cancelling it.”