Education Minister Jason Clare has called the political debate around changing the date of Australia Day a “fake fight,” stating the government has no plans to scrap the January 26 date.
This is despite an election promise from Peter Dutton to enshrine the day in legislation if the Coalition wins back government this year.
The Opposition Leader’s comments follow a NewsCorp online poll that found only 12 per cent of the more than 21,000 people surveyed supported moving the date, with the overwhelming majority (87 per cent) calling for things to remain as they are.
Education Minister Jason Clare labelled the January 26 change-the-date debate a ‘fake fight’. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman
Appearing on Sunrise, Mr Clare accused Mr Dutton Leader of using the January 26 debate as a distraction, taking aim at the Coalition’s recently announced election promise to allow small businesses to claim up to $20,000 in tax deductions on food and entertainment.
“The date’s not changing … we have the same fake fight every year,” he said.
“We’re the best country in the world. Australia Day is a great opportunity to celebrate.
“This is just another distraction from Dutton to conceal this stinker of a policy. I know there’s a smelly flower in Sydney today. The real stinker here is this idea that taxpayers should pay for their boss’s lunch, and you still won’t tell us how much it’s going to cost.”
Mr Clare also noted that Australia Day was already considered a public holiday under the National Employment Standards, which made further legislation unnecessary.
“It’s already in employment law … that’s why I’m saying this is a fake fight to distract from the mess of Peter Dutton’s crazy policies,” he said.
However, his sparring partner Sussan Ley pointed to Labor’s 2022 move to allow councils to conduct citizenship ceremonies on the three days either side of Australia Day, and she acknowledged that Australia Day was considered a day of grieving for many Indigenous communities.
Peter Dutton says a returned Coalition government would further enshrine the January 26 Australia Day date in legislation. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard
Mr Dutton also said he would scrap the citizenship provision within the first 100 days of a newly elected Coalition government.
“Well, because Labor, tried to give councils the option of moving the date to celebrate citizenship ceremonies, and then the Prime Minister and Jason worked out that actually Australians don’t want this at all, they want Australia Day to be a special day, and they want citizenship ceremonies on that day,” Ms Ley said.
While Mr Dutton has been vocal in his support of Australia Day, stating that it should be a date of “national pride,” he’s also called on people to “boycott” businesses that aren’t in support of the national day.
“I just think it says that our national pride can be something that we celebrate again. Be respectful to everybody, but these companies who are boycotting Australia Day, boycott them,” he told Nine on Friday.
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