Ben Fordham has criticized politicians after many eagerly embraced Chinese New Year celebrations but remained silent on Australia Day.
The 2GB presenter called out politicians during his breakfast show on Friday ahead of this weekend’s Chinese New Year celebrations.
Fordham targeted politicians for their “double standard” after they shared posts about Lunar New Year celebrations on social media but “remained silent” on Australia Day.
“How’s this for double standards? There are politicians right now celebrating the Lunar New Year,” Fordham said.
“Posting selfies and wishing people a Happy Lunar New Year and attending Chinese New Year celebrations.
“But if we go back two weeks, it was quiet on Australia Day. No selfies, no ‘happy Australia Day’, no Australia Day celebrations.”
Radio host Ben Fordham (pictured) slammed politicians for applying a double standard after widely shared photos in which he wished people a ‘Happy New Year’ but remained ‘silent’ over Australia Day celebrations
Fordham targeted NSW Premier Chris Minns, Sydney Mayor Clover Moore, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke, Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.
Prime Minister Chriss Minns shared photos celebrating the Lunar New Year at a festival in Hurstville, south of Sydney, on social media on February 3 with the caption wishing everyone a “Happy Lunar New Year”.
However, Fordham noted that the Prime Minister did not wish Aussies a ‘Happy Australia Day’ on January 26, but instead shared photos at an Indigenous morning ceremony.
He added the day before Australia Day celebrations; the Prime Minister also shared the countdown to the Gay and Lesbian Sydney Mardi Gras festival.
Fordham then slammed Sydney mayor Clover Moore for announcing a 16-day “celebration” for the Lunar New Year and labeling Australia Day as “not for celebration”.
Fordham noted that New South Wales Premier Chris Minns shared photos of himself celebrating Lunar New at a festival in Hurstville, southern Sydney, on social media (pictured)
However, on Australia Day, Prime Minister Minns only shared photos of himself attending an Indigenous morning ceremony and did not wish Aussies a ‘Happy New Year’.
‘WWe have the mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore. She started the Lunar New Year calling it a ‘celebration,'” Fordham said.
“She announced that Sydney was going to throw a 16-day party to celebrate, which is fantastic. She said it was one of the city’s most important events.
‘On social media, Clover Moore said: ‘Australia Day is a day that marks the invasion’. She says it’s not a holiday. So we are not allowed to celebrate on Australia Day, but during the Lunar New Year it is a celebration that lasts more than two weeks.’
Fordham said other front bench members also remained quiet on their social media accounts on Australia Day.
“Penny Wong didn’t say anything about Australia Day. Tony Burke was silent, as were Chris Bowen and Tania Plibersek,” Fordham said.
He added that Communications Minister Michelle Roland also had a double standard.
Ms Roland wished Australians a ‘Happy Indian Republic Day’ on January 26 – the same date as Australia’s National Day.
Republic Day is a national holiday in India that commemorates the country’s transition to a republic in 1950.
Fordham said India’s Republic Day on January 26 was “the only thing worth celebrating” for Ms Roland.
Fordham called out Sydney Mayor Clover Moore (center) for announcing a 16-day Lunar New Year ‘celebration’
The mayor (second from left) shared photos of the Australia Day protests and an Indigenous morning ceremony. In her caption she claims Australia Day is ‘not a holiday’ but a day that ‘masks invasion’
“If you look at her (Ms Roland) social media accounts, she said, ‘Happy India Republic Day. May this occasion bring celebration, laughter and togetherness, which is fun,” Fordham said.
‘But for Australia Day she couldn’t use the words ‘Australia Day’. There is no celebration, laughter or solidarity.’
The radio host praised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for wishing Australians a “Happy Australia Day” on social media, but claimed he was ‘the odd one out’.
Fordham said other front bench members remained silent on Australia Day, despite some sharing photos in honor of the Lunar New Year (Photo: Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek at a New Year’s festival)
Fordham said he had “no issues” with India’s Republic Day or Lunar New Year, adding that Chinese Australians have made incredible contributions to the country for hundreds of years.
However, he claimed the politician’s double standard of celebrating important dates for other countries and not Australia was “distorted”.
“Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with India’s Republic Day or Lunar New Year, but it’s a bit crooked, isn’t it?” Fordham said.
“Our politicians want to celebrate every important date except the one on which our national holiday is celebrated.”
Australia Day, celebrated every year on January 26, marks the landing of the First Fleet in 1788 when the first Governor of the British colony of New South Wales, Arthur Philip, hoisted the Union Jack at Sydney Cove.
But for many First Nations people, the date is considered “Invasion Day” or the “Day of Mourning,” with thousands taking part in protests in the country’s capitals to change the date of the national holiday.