Jeff Kennett calls for date of Australia Day to be changed

Jeff Kennett argues that retaining January 26 as Australia Day will “forever put a white line between us and our First Peoples”.

Jeff Kennett has called for the date of Australia Day to be changed. Picture: Hollie Adams.

Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett is calling for the date of Australia Day to be changed, arguing that retaining January 26 as a day of celebration will “forever put a white line between us and our First Peoples”.

The beyondblue founder said while he objects to the characterisation of January 26 as “Invasion Day” because the first settlers to Australia Day did not arrive with that intention, he believes the process of colonisation has left a legacy of dispossession.

“We came here to settle, we formed a colony … as we spread that colony we dispossessed the First People.” he told The Australian.

“For many in the community, [January 26] represents the day they were dispossessed and brutalised. I agree with them.”

Mr Kennett, who has previously argued that Australia Day needs to be protected from the Greens, said his mind had been changed by his time at The Torch, an organisation that aims to reduce recidivism rates among indigenous offenders in Victoria.

“For sometime now I have been increasingly worried that we do not do enough in this country to recognise our First People,” he said.

“They are important, they are special and they should be recognised as such.”

Mr Kennett said he could find no other nation that celebrates its national day on the date new arrivals settled in the country. He instead is suggesting January 1 be adopted as the date Australia Day is celebrated.

“It is a day in which everyone can celebrate, no one is disadvantaged.” he said. “We can reflect on the past and be optimistic.”

Mr Kennett said the fact the nation will celebrate a public holiday on Monday undermined arguments the date of January 26 was sacrosanct.

“If Australia Day is going to mean anything, whatever day, there shouldn’t be a day in lieu, which indicates to me we’re not serious.” he said.

Mr Kennett said he was asking Australians who support January 26 as the date Australia Day to show the same social generosity the nation displayed during the 2017 same-sex marriage postal survey.

“I’m asking the 75 per cent of the Australian population who is said to support Australia Day as January 26 to understand the intellectual strength of my argument …” he said.

“And to recognise if we continue to support that date we will forever put a white line between us and our first peoples.”