Eric Abetz defends Australia Day call as Tasmanian Aboriginal groups call for an end to the ‘division’ over the date

Tasmanian Liberal MP defends Dutton despite Tasmanian Aboriginal groups labelling January 26 a ‘terrible’ date to celebrate Australia.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton says he will mandate councils to host citizenship ceremonies on January 26. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

A state MP “absolutely agrees” with calls to reinstate a requirement for local councils to hold their citizenship ceremonies on January 26 as Tasmanian Aboriginal groups call for an end to the “division” over the date.

Federal opposition leader Peter Dutton said he would reinstate the requirement within the first 100 days of government if elected.

Campaign co-ordinator at the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre Nala Mansell said the commitment was an attack on freedom of speech and local government flexibility.

“Peter Dutton’s latest attack on local governments demonstrates his ongoing resistance to freedom of speech and his insistence on imposing a narrow, conservative agenda that is out of touch with modern Australia,” Ms Mansell said in a statement.

“His attempt to mandate the timing of citizenship ceremonies is a desperate move to stifle progress and silence the voices of Indigenous communities and local councils.”

Nala Mansell. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

81 Australian councils have chosen to move their annual citizenship ceremonies from the controversial date.

Ms Mansell said local councils were on the front lines of community engagement and are best positioned to respond to the diverse needs of their constituents.

“The rigid directives from Canberra undermine this local autonomy and disregard the trusted role councils play in fostering inclusive and respectful communities,” she said.

Mr Dutton committed to reinstating a requirement for councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26 within the first 100 days if the coalition is elected.

He said it would be a sign of “pride and nationalism” in Australia and he wanted the population to be “united”.

Tasmanian Liberal MP Eric Abetz “absolutely” agreed with Mr Dutton’s comments and said we have a lot to be thankful for living in Australia.

“Have we done things wrong in the past? Absolutely. Are we doing some wrong things as we speak here? Yes we are,” Mr Abetz said, adding that comparatively, Australian forebears had done a “great job” in creating the country.

He said recent polling indicated an uptick in support for Australia Day being held on January 26.

Reconciliation Tasmania chairperson Clair Andersen.

Minister Eric Abetz. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

In a statement to the Mercury co-chairs of Reconciliation Tasmania Clair Andersen and Beth Gilligan said January 26 was a “terrible date to celebrate Australian unity”.

“January 26 is the anniversary of the 1788 British invasion of unceded lands and subsequent colonisation, dispossession of First Peoples and the start of intergenerational trauma,” they said.

“When our country can accept its violent beginnings, the wrongs of its past and see the

ongoing impact of inequality and injustice, perhaps then we can journey to genuine unity

and reconciliation.”

Ms Andersen and Ms Gilligan said the history calls for January 26 to be a day for truth-telling and truth-listening and should be a national day for mourning.

“How we learn to mourn as a nation over the murder and dispossession of our First Peoples requires deep honesty and collaboration,” they said.