Richard Alston attacks Stephen Smith for Australia Day ‘shame’

Former Australian high commissioner to the UK Richard Alston has criticised top diplomat ­Stephen Smith for his decision not to host the annual Australia Day gala.

High Commissioner to London Stephen Smith.

Former Australian high commissioner to the UK Richard Alston has criticised top diplomat ­Stephen Smith for his decision not to host the annual Australia Day gala, arguing those in public office should not “respond to every passing breeze” of social change.

Mr Alston, who served as high commissioner between 2005 and 2008, said Mr Smith’s explanation – that the expense of holding the event had prompted him to axe the charity dinner on January 26 – did not stand up to scrutiny as there was “more serious cost-cutting needed”.

A former Liberal senator and federal party president, Mr Alston said if the event had been ­cancelled because of sensitivity concerns surrounding Australia Day then Mr Smith – who was hand-picked for the job by Anthony Albanese – should have had “courage to say so”.

“It’s been one of the Australian success stories in London and it has traditionally attracted a very high-powered crowd of supporters,” Mr Alston told The Australian. “It seems extraordinary that the high commissioner should take it upon himself to simply axe it.

“He needs to explain if he was acting on authority from DFAT, and whether the Prime Minister was consulted.”

Mr Smith reportedly told organisers of the charity gala – a mainstay of the London social calendar that in the past has attracted high-profile Australians such Kylie Minogue, Tim Minchin and Delta Goodrem – that it would be insensitive to hold the event.

January 26 marks the landing of the First Fleet in Sydney in 1788 and has been branded as Invasion Day by some Indigenous activists.

Mr Alston said he opposed the shift away from celebrating January 26, and Mr Smith shouldn’t “respond to every passing breeze” or “try and catch the latest wave”.

“There are always going to be a few activists who want to make changes, it doesn’t mean it’s in the national interest,” he said.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Peter Dutton said Mr Smith should be “looking for a new job” if he did not believe in Australia Day, accusing him of being “ashamed” of the increasingly controversial national holiday.

“I think I speak for the majority of Australians here who are proud of our country, recognise that we’ve got a history of Indigenous heritage, white settlement in our country and all of that is to be celebrated,” the Opposition Leader said.

“We have the institutions here in our country that make us a great democracy, freedom of speech, we have the ability to contribute in an egalitarian way and that is to be celebrated … If (Mr Smith) is ashamed of Australia Day then, frankly, I think he should be looking for a new job.”

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles accused Mr Dutton of attempting to “beat something out of nothing”. “There will be an Australia Day function in London, at Australia House on Australia Day next year: no ifs, no buts,” he said.

A spokesman for Mr Smith said the decision had been motivated by the expense, with the annual gala dinner predicted to cost about $55,000.