Australia Day: Turnbull dismisses calls for change to flag

Malcolm Turnbull has dismissed calls to change the Australian flag, claiming younger generations see it as a symbol of the nation.

Australia Day should include a focus on the recognition of indigenous Australians and the “honest and open truthful recognition” of Australia’s history, Malcolm Turnbull says.

The Prime Minister said the impact of European settlement on Aboriginal Australians had been “tragic”, but Australia’s history was overwhelmingly a “bright story of success”.

“What we should be focusing on is the recognition of our First Australians, ... and the honest and open and truthful recognition of our history,” Mr Turnbull said.

“Our history, Australia’s history, overwhelmingly is a bright story of success. But there have been, you know, the impact of European settlement on Aboriginal Australians was tragic. Of course it was. We understand that.

“And there are many wrongs that were done in the past, which we seek to right today. And that’s what we should be focusing on.

“We should be focusing on closing the gap, on health, on education, telling our story honestly, but above all remembering that this is a story of enormous achievement.”

Speaking to reporters after a citizenship ceremony in Canberra, Mr Turnbull said migrants who had chosen to become Australian citizens today had been “entranced” by the story of Australia.

“They believe in this remarkable nation, and they’re celebrating it today,’’ he said. “They’ve made a choice, and in doing so, they’ve honoured us.”

Mr Turnbull dismissed calls for the Australian flag to be changed. “I don’t think the Australian flag will ever be changed,” he said.

.@TurnbullMalcolm: Australia's history is, overwhelmingly, a bright story of success. #AustraliaDay https://t.co/gVanDhX81H pic.twitter.com/6ttGMTnTay

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) January 25, 2018

“I think the Australians, particularly ... younger Australians, Australians younger than me, say, my children’s generation, they don’t deconstruct the Australian flag, and, you know, say, ‘Well, there’s a Union Jack, that’s the flag of another country,’ they look at it as one Australian symbol.

“That’s the one they have on their backpacks when they’re travelling overseas, that’s the flag that our soldiers have on their shoulder patches, that is our flag.

“So, I think the Australian flag will be flying over Parliament House long after all of us have shuffled off the stage of history.”

Mr Turnbull said protests over Australia Day showed there were people who disagreed over the date of Australia Day, “but not many”.

“You know, the overwhelming majority of Australians are celebrating Australia Day like we all are here today,” he said.

“They are just in love with our nation, with our story, with our people, with our success. The most successful multicultural society in the world.”

‘Australia Day shouldn’t be an idiot magnet’: Shorten

Labor leader Bill Shorten warned far left and right activists not to be “idiots”, amid news Victoria Police are on riot red alert due to fears of clashes between extremists in Melbourne.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re on the far right or far left, Australia Day shouldn’t be an idiot magnet. It’s our national day,” Mr Shorten said.

“When I look at Australia Day, today is a great day all the new citizens, but it’s a day of great pain, in particular for our First Australians.

“It’s a public holiday, that’s a great chance to celebrate, but what I would say to the idiots who want to politicise Australia Day and cause trouble is, you’re not welcome.

.@billshortenmp says 'idiots' who want to politicise Australia Day are not welcome. MORE: https://t.co/GJQzCUjrkD pic.twitter.com/UayVwtKrX4

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) January 26, 2018

Mr Shorten said changing the flag was not among his priorities, unlike becoming a republic and recognising indigenous Australians in the constitution.

“I said last year that Australia should have an Australian head of state,” he said.

“I think we’ll be a truly independent country when we have an Australian head of state.

“The Queen and the royal family, the Queen has been fantastic, a fantastic person, she’s done great things. But she’s not an Australian.

“For Australia to proceed in the 21st Century, it’s about time, two centuries after the English settled us, European settlement, it’s time for us to have an Australian head of state.

“That’s my debate, that’s the issue I’m going to focus on.”