Labor candidates backtrack on Australia Day as Shorten battens down the hatches over debate

Two would-be federal MPs have been forced to retreat on their views about moving Australia Day as Bill Shorten struggles to hold his party together on the issue.

Two would-be federal Labor MPs have been forced to retreat on their views about moving Australia Day as Bill Shorten struggles to hold together his party on the issue.

Shireen Morris, a prominent advocate for indigenous recognition, is attempting to win the marginal Liberal-held seat of Deakin in Melbourne’s outer east.

She had previously said it’s understandable why people view it as “Invasion Day” or “Survival Day”.

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Labor leader Bill Shorten has ruled out changing the date should he win the next federal election but dismissed a push by a handful of conservative politicians to enshrine in law January 26 as the date of Australia Day.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten with Deakin candidate Shireen Morris last year. Picture: AAP

However a growing number within the party believe the issue has the potential to again flare up internally if Labor wins government.

In a Sydney Morning Herald opinion piece three years ago, Ms Morris, a former member of Noel Pearson’s Cape York Institute, wrote: “It is not a historically accurate date to celebrate Australia: Australia as a nation did not come officially into being until January 1, 1901, when the constitution uniting the disparate colonies came into force.”

“Perhaps we need a new Australia Day; one that better includes all Australians. Perhaps it should be the date we formally bring together our indigenous heritage, our British inheritance and our multicultural character.”

In a statement to the Herald Sun, Ms Morris said on Thursday: “I do not advocate changing the date of Australia Day. I support Labor’s policy to keep the date the same.”

Labor candidate for Corangamite Libby Coker has backtracked on Australia Day. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Libby Coker, who is tipped to win the state’s most marginal seat of Corangamite on the Surf Coast, also said less than a year ago: “We do need to look at changing the date”.

“The date on which we currently celebrate Australia Day is highly symbolic and it is worthy of debate given that so many of our First Australians find January 26 offensive.”

In a statement on Thursday she said: “It’s Labor’s policy not to change the date of Australia Day from January 26 - I support this”.

Last year a motion to shift Australia Day from January 26 to May 9, when the Commonwealth parliament first met, has been put forward for debate by members of federal MP Andrews Giles’ staff.

West Australian Liberal Senator Dean Smith argued on Thursday the national public holiday should be protected in legislation, in the same way as Anzac Day and the national flag.

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