Prime Minister Anthony Albanese maintains his support for Australia Day, despite planned boycotts by some businesses. While acknowledging the complexities surrounding the date for Indigenous Australians, Mr. Albanese emphasizes the national holiday's significance as a celebration of Australia's history and potential.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declined to support planned pub boycotts of Australia Day, reaffirming his stance on the national holiday while recognizing the complexities surrounding January 26 for Indigenous Australians. As Australia Day approaches, the debate surrounding the date has intensified. Protests advocating for a change in the date have been staged in several major cities, despite a notable shift in public opinion against altering Australia Day.
A recent poll indicated that 69% of Australians support keeping Australia Day on January 26, contradicting the rise in anti-Australia vandalism and rhetoric usually witnessed in the lead-up to the national celebration. Some businesses have also announced plans to boycott January 26, and a number of pubs owned by Australian Venue Co, a hospitality group based in Hong Kong, have omitted any mention of 'Australia Day' from their promotional materials.During a question-and-answer session with reporters at the National Press Club on Friday, Mr. Albanese was questioned about his stance on the boycott movement, following criticism of Australian Venue Co by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. In his response, Mr. Albanese remarked that, 'I sometimes think that Peter Dutton every year has a fight with an imaginary friend over something that most Australians are just getting on with.' He further stated, 'Last year, you know, it was Woolworths - boycotting Woolworths, Australia's largest employer. Did I support that? No, I didn't support that. I support Australia Day.' In 2024, Woolworths faced backlash after deciding to stop selling Australia-themed merchandise in the days leading up to January 26. Initially, the supermarket attributed the decision to a 'gradual decline in demand' for Australia Day products, but they have since reversed their stance and reinstated themed items on their shelves.Australian Venue Co, which operates almost 210 venues across Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, and Sydney, has also reconsidered its initial position. Having previously instructed staff not to 'specifically celebrate a day that causes hurt for some of our patrons and our team,' the group is now encouraging patrons to celebrate the 'January long weekend' but refrains from mentioning or referencing Australia Day in any online advertising. While Mr. Albanese declined to endorse the boycott approach, he offered a more nuanced perspective when addressing questions about public support for the national holiday. When asked about recent polling indicating that around 61% of Australians favored keeping Australia Day on January 26, the Prime Minister refrained from commenting on the factors behind the increased support. However, he acknowledged the 'difficult' relationship that many Indigenous Australians have with the day. 'This weekend, we'll celebrate Australia Day and that's a wonderful thing. Australians will gather at the beach, BBQs, they'll gather around the country,' he said. 'I firmly believe it's a celebration of while we are the best country on earth, how do we ensure that we're even better in the future?' He continued, 'The other thing that happens at Australia Day is there is a focus on the fullness and richness of our history, including the fact that we are the continent with the oldest continuous culture on earth, and what a privilege it is. 'It's a wonderful thing, and every year, certainly my local council and the Inner West Council, when it used to be three of them, all are very respectful and acknowledging of the full history. Acknowledging as well it's a hurtful day, a difficult day, for many First Nations people.
AUSTRALIA DAY PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE BOYCOOTS INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS NATIONAL HOLIDAY PROTESTS PUBLIC OPINION
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