WA Senator Sue Lines says Australia Day date ‘celebrates white supremacy’

Australia Day is a celebration of “white supremacy” and January 26 “should be a day of mourning and reflection”, according to Federal Labor politician Sue Lines. The WA Senator last year came out in support of changing the date of Australia Day and in a new social media post continued her push for a rethink of the national holiday. “On 26th January 1788 Arthur Phillips landed in Sydney and began a destructive era of colonisation, genocide and dispossession,” Ms Lines wrote. “It is time to end the formal celebration of Australia Day on the 26th of January “This isn’t about guilt or shame, it is about being honest about our past and respecting our First Nations people.” Debate about changing the date of Australia Day has intensified in recent years, with West Coast Eagles star Nic Naitanui last year joining the conversation to express his support for moving the celebration and that he’d “love the WA population to lead the way”. Indigenous cricket star Dan Christian joined the fray last week when criticising Prime Minister Scott Morrison for his commentary over the Cricket Australia’s decision to refer to drop the term “Australia Day” from its coverage of Big Bash League fixtures taking place tomorrow. “@ScottMorrisonMP read the room Mr Prime Minister,” Christian wrote on Twitter. “@CricketAus are leading the way because your government won’t. There’ll be millions of kids watching our @BBL games on the 26th January, and they’ll see us taking a knee against racism, and promoting inclusion for all. Take note.” Ms Lines wrote that while changing the date was not “some kind of fix-all” the nation could not “move forward if we are in denial about our dark history”. “Australia Day celebrates white supremacy and the legacy of colonisation that is directly linked to the various ways we continue to fail First Nations people,” she said. “It’s wrapped up in modern racist policies like the cashless debit card, with deaths in custody and our failure to close the gap. “January 26th should be a day of mourning and reflection.” WA Liberal leader Zak Kirkup slammed Ms Lines’ “divisive” Facebook post, which he said failed to address “the actual issues that confront Aboriginal people in Western Australia”. He said changing the date of Australia Day was never brought up with him during visits to remote communities or towns like Geraldton and Kununurra with high indigenous populations. “The divisive language used by the Labor Party is shameful,” Mr Kirkup said. “It's shameful and I think it comes at a time when they are seeking to politically expedite a conversation here that is working to divide Australians against themselves. “As someone with Aboriginal heritage in my family, my father would say to me that we are Australian first. “It's important to reflect on that. I don't think, when we talk about Australia Day, we should be dividing ourselves over issues like changing the date.” Premier Mark McGowan said he disagreed with Ms Lines’ description of Australia day. “Look, I don't agree with it. I don't think what she said is correct,” Mr McGowan said. And I think most people don't share that view” However, the Premier said he recognised that the day was a “difficult one” for many people. “We all understand that for many people it’s not a day they want to celebrate. This will be an ongoing debate,” he said. Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt has publicly backed Australia Day remaining on January 26, saying Australians should “harness our past as a powerful force to focus on a better future that is inclusive of all.” “Whether you belong to the world’s longest living continuous culture as an Indigenous Australian, or whether you have come here in recent years from across the seas to share in our success — we are one as Australians,” Mr Wyatt wrote in a recent opinion piece in The West Australian. “That’s why this Australia Day I want us as one to reflect, respect and celebrate the Australian journey. It is a journey that is defined by success — achievements that make us proud and signal to the world the strength and resilience of the Australian people.” “It is also a journey that for some is difficult, it is raw, and it does hurt in parts — but rather than shy away from this, or dismiss our success, we should come together as one this Australia Day and reach out to better understand the Australian story of others.” His views have drawn criticism from those on both sides of the argument.