Indigenous independent candidate Susan Moylan-Coombs takes on Tony Abbott in Warringah

Indigenous independent candidate Susan Moylan-Coombs, who is taking on Tony Abbott in Warringah at the next federal election, has revealed Australia Day as one of her key issues. She has also detailed the barrage of criticism she has been targeted with by some voters opposed to her running against the former Prime Minister.

Susan Moylan-Coombs. Picture: Jim O’Rourke.

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Australia Day will be one of the central policy platforms for an indigenous independent candidate taking on Tony Abbott in Warringah at the next federal election.

As her campaign launch on Monday Susan Moylan-Coombs said the celebration of the public holiday each January 26 “felt like pressing on a bruise” to First Nations’ people.

Ms Moylan-Coombs asked why government leaders continued to allow January 26 to be a date that divides Australia.

Tony Abbott. Picture Kym Smith

She said it was a “long-open wound that splits the nation in two every summer”.

“Why don’t (government leaders) heal the trauma?

“As an indigenous woman, I know we need to talk about the truth and trauma of this anniversary to understand why its ‘celebration’ feels like pressing on a bruise to First

Nations people every January.”

Ms Moylan-Coombs, who lives at Killarney Heights and is a member of the Stolen Generation, suggested that January 1 — the date of Australian Federation in 1901 — could be a day “that we come together as a nation”, rather than Australia Day.

“I think it takes away from the divisiveness of January 26. It’s time to talk about Australia Day with a united voice of reason.

“My message is, ‘come on Australia, we are better than this’.”

Dancers from the Jannawi Dance Clan perform at the campaign launch for Susan Moylan-Coombs. Picture: Jim O’Rourke.

Her Australia Day call came as she revealed she had already faced a barrage of criticism from voters after announcing her candidacy four weeks ago, including calls for her to “stay in the kitchen and do the cooking and cleaning”.

Ms Moylan-Coombs said she had also heard that she was not “white enough”, that a “woman can’t win”, that she was “only in it for the money”.

“And don't say the ‘stolen’ word because you should consider yourself the lucky generation.

“Some people have criticised my candidacy, citing either a lack of policies or the experience of a seasoned politician.

Susan Moylan-Coombs, an indigenous woman from Killarney Heights walks through the smoke during a smoking ceremony held on Monday. Picture: Jim O’Rourke.

“Yes, I’m new to this just like any others who step into politics for the cause. That cause involves bringing two cultures together, old and new, for an Australia that represents who we are today and who we want to be tomorrow.”

Ms Moylan Coombs, who has been active on indigenous issues through her years as a producer with National Indigenous Television — a division of SBS — and the ABC, said she would also lobby for more funding for public broadcasting and work to make Australia a leader in renewable energy technology.

“Party politics has failed Warringah. The party that represents this seat, has stopped listening to the people. They are in a policy death spiral,” she said

“As your independent MP I would have the ability to agitate for this electorate’s needs,” she said.

Responding to Ms Moylan-Coombs’ Australia Day policy, Mr Abbott said: “As I’ve said before, we shouldn’t try to rewrite history or pretend the past didn’t happen.

“January the 26th 1788 marks the beginning of modern Australia and is the right day to celebrate our achievements as a nation and to look forward to an even better future.