First it was ‘sensitivities’ about Australia Day – and now, after a huge storm of criticism, Anthony Albanese’s handpicked ambassador to the UK has a NEW reason for ditching popular Aus Day gala dinner in London
Australia's top diplomat in Britain scrapped an annual gala event on Australia Day after it was determined that “taxpayers should no longer bear the costs of such an event,” the government now says.
The black-tie event, usually held in London on January 26 each year, would cost an estimated $55,000 this year if it were to go ahead, a spokesperson for High Commissioner Stephen Smith told Ny Breaking Australia on Wednesday.
It is the second reason given by the department in the days since the decision was announced.
Initially, 'sensitivities' around Australia Day and the date were cited as a factor in the decision.
But a spokesperson said on Wednesday: 'Supporting the gala dinner in the past has cost the Australian High Commission a lot of money.
“The High Commission has determined that Australian taxpayers should no longer bear such costs.”
The black-tie event, usually held in London on January 26 each year, would cost an estimated $55,000 this year if it were to go ahead, a spokesperson for High Commissioner Stephen Smith (pictured at No 10 Downing Street) said. to Daily. Australia Post
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (pictured with his wife) called on Mr Smith to apologize for the apparent insult on Australia Day
But a spokesman for Mr Smith – the country's former foreign and defense minister – argued the event had not been “cancelled”, merely that the Australia Foundation had decided not to go ahead with the gala dinner.
'The government believes that Australia Day should continue to take place on January 26.
“The High Commission has already planned and will host a suitable event to mark Australia Day at Australia House, as embassies and consulates around the world do.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called on Smith to apologize for the apparent insult on Australia Day.
In a televised speech broadcast on Tuesday, the opposition leader called the decision to move the date “crazy” and “completely unacceptable.”
“How can we have a High Commissioner who is ashamed of Australia Day? Australia Day is a celebration of our history and heritage,” Mr Dutton said.
“I think the vast majority of Australians will celebrate Australia Day and I think the High Commissioner in London, if he is unwilling to celebrate Australia Day, if he is ashamed of Australia Day, frankly I think he is looking has to go to a new job. .'
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called the decision to move the date “crazy” and “completely unacceptable” and called on Mr Smith to publicly withdraw his decision.
Kylie Minogue attends the Australia Day gala dinner at Australia House in London on January 24, 2015, the event now canceled by High Commissioner Stephen Smith
The date January 26, which marks the landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788, is considered a day of mourning for indigenous communities and some call it Invasion Day or Survival Day.
A survey of more than 2,000 people conducted by YouGov in 2022 found that 56 percent of people were in favor of keeping the date of Australia Day as it is. However, almost half of young people under 35 were in favor of a changed date.
Opposition Indigenous Affairs spokesperson Jacinta Nampijinpa Price told 2GB earlier this week that Mr Smith's decision to move the event date was “un-Australian”.
'I think it's a shame to end Australia Day celebrations. I think we need to get back to being proud of what it means to be Australian,” she said.
The coalition's criticism of moving the gala came amid discussions from party leaders about how the country should continue its efforts to achieve reconciliation with indigenous people in the wake of the defeated Voice referendum.
Voice architect and prominent pro-Voice campaigner Professor Megan Davis said publicly for the first time after the October 14 loss to the AFR that the grassroots movement for indigenous rights would continue its advocacy despite the fact that some Aboriginal communities believed the opportunity for reconciliation was 'dead'.
Former Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt also spoke out earlier this week, telling the Sydney Morning Herald that despite the rejection of a constitutional vote, the prospect of closing the gap must be tackled in a “pragmatic” way.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney's 2024 priorities would focus on issues identified by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including health, education, jobs, housing and justice
The government is yet to confirm how it plans to pursue other parts of the Uluru Declaration, including Treaty and Truth.
It has already allocated $5.8 million to “begin the establishment of an independent Makarrata Commission to oversee deal-making and truth-telling processes.”
A spokesperson for Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney said the minister's priorities in 2024 would focus on issues identified by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including health, education, jobs, housing and justice.
This includes new funding for justice reinvestment to reduce incarceration, investment in basic services in remote areas, and the replacement of the 'failed' remote employment and community development services program.