January 26 ‘a day to celebrate’ and ‘mourn’
Daniel Andrews’ government has surrendered in its fight to keep a controversial Australia Day letter secret from the public | READ THE LETTER
The Andrews government has surrendered in its fight to keep a draft ministerial letter canvassing competing views about Australia Day from being read by Victorians.
In a rare about-face, the Department of Premier and Cabinet has abandoned a legal bid to prevent the undated and unsigned letter from being released under Freedom of Information laws.
The one-page draft letter prepared for Aboriginal Affairs Minister Gabrielle Williams – which has now been handed to the Victorian opposition – both lauds and condemns January 26.
‘‘For some people, Australia Day is an opportunity to celebrate the diversity and multiculturalism in Victoria and the things that we have in common that bring us together,’’ the draft letter states.
‘‘However, I acknowledge that for some people, particularly our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, 26 January can be a difficult day, and rightly so.
‘‘It can be a day of mourning, loss and trauma because of colonisation, child removal and dispossession of traditional lands.
‘‘For other Aboriginal people, the day represents the strength and survival of First Peoples’ cultures and traditions.
“I note you have raised some of these points in your email.’’
It’s unclear from the correspondence released by the DPC whether these paragraphs were included in the final version of the letter – which the government admits was not stored in its document management system – that was sent in response to an email from a constituent.
Shadow special minister for state David Davis said ‘‘chronic secrecy’’ was a growing problem in Victoria, with the Andrews government repeatedly fighting the release of documents the public had a right to see.
“Daniel Andrews and Labor’s chronic secrecy is typified by their resistance to the release of these Australia Day letter drafts,’’ he said.
‘‘What do they have to hide? The letters on one hand adopt a black arm band view, effectively disparaging Australia Day, despite its overwhelming popularity with the Victorian community.
“The letters concede Australia Day is an opportunity to celebrate Victoria’s (and Australia’s) multicultural heritage, admitting the day holds significance for many in Victoria’s multicultural communities who may well have taken citizenship at an Australia Day ceremony.
“Nowhere does the rhetoric in the Andrews Labor government’s letters recognise or even concede the vital significance of Victoria’s British heritage or its significance to our constitutional and political history.’’
The Andrews government said the DPC has complied with the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner’s decision in releasing the draft letter.
‘‘The Victorian Government regularly acknowledges in its correspondence that there are diverse views within the community but that national holidays are a decision for the federal government,’’ a government spokesperson said.
In its decision, OVIC deputy commissioner Joanne Kummrow said: ‘‘The agency considers disclosure of the draft letter would be contrary to the public interest because it would likely lead to confusion and unnecessary debate, as the document does not clearly or accurately represent the final response which was sent by the relevant minister.
‘‘It submits disclosure could also be misleading by suggesting a particular view or position is held or endorsed by the government or minister, when in fact the letter had been subject to further changes, and as such does not represent a final position.’’
The DPC has also released four further letters from Ms Williams covering the issue of Australia Day that were sent to Indigenous groups or concerned individuals.
None of the four letters references the comments celebrating or condemning January 26 that were contained in the minister’s draft letter.
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