Australia Day: Date never brought up by indigenous people says Nigel Scullion

Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion says no indigenous person ever raised the issue of the Australia Day date with him.

Nigel Scullion, pictured during a recent visit to Gunbalanya School in Arnhem Land, says the date of Australia Day isn’t an issue with the indigenous people he talks to. Picture: AAP

Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion says no indigenous person has ever raised the issue of changing the date of Australia Day with him.

Earlier this week Chris Sarra, one of Malcolm Turnbull’s key indigenous advisers, said he did not think that Australia Day and what it represents is a day that most people in the Aboriginal community want to celebrate.

Senator Scullion acknowledged Professor Sarra’s view, saying he was a good friend he often spoke to.

However, he said the issue was a “low priority” for him as Indigenous Affairs Minister.

“It’s good that I’ve heard that advice from Chris,” Senator Scullion told ABC radio.

“But can I say ... I’ve just spent the last week in indigenous communities around Australia. It never comes up as an issue.

“What people are telling me is that they want to make sure they get a good education, and what about more opportunities for access to the health system.”

Asked whether he was saying that not a single indigenous person had ever expressed to him as the Indigenous Affairs Minister that they wanted the date of Australia Day changed, Senator Scullion said: “That’s correct. Absolutely correct.”

“This is not something that comes up at all, and outside of Chris I can tell you, there has been no one, as a fact,” he said.

“In the bubble around our tea trolleys we might sort of say, well I’ve heard, and therefore we have a discussion, but no one’s brought that to me.”

Senator Scullion said there were other occasions to celebrate indigenous culture and heritage, and changing the date of Australia Day was divisive.

“We have NAIDOC Week, we have Sorry Day, We have Reconciliation Week, we have Mabo Day,” he said.

“If you want to divide the nation, this is how you go down that line.

“I share my Australia Day with my mates. Obviously as a Territorian, there are many Aboriginal people particularly who share it, and I have to say we share it in much the same way.

“I acknowledge that it is acknowledged in different ways. This nation changed so tragically for Aboriginal people because their culture was smashed, but for so many people it’s just another celebration.

“But (changing the date) is a very low priority certainly on my agenda.”