Kyle Sandilands has delivered a tough message to Australians who refuse to celebrate Australia Day on January 26.
The KIIS FM breakfast presenter, 52, who is known for his right-wing political views, weighed in on the upcoming National Day during a fiery rant during Monday morning’s show.
Sandilands lost his cool early in the broadcast after receiving a memo from the content director of KIIS about sensitivity when it comes to the national holiday.
He began by attacking the “woke media industry” for discouraging workers from celebrating the holiday, before pointing out what he believes is a double standard.
“I can’t believe I have to thank everyone for allowing us to use the land, but we can’t celebrate it on a national holiday,” Sandilands raged.
Kyle Sandilands, 52, (pictured) delivered a tough message to Australians who refuse to celebrate Australia Day on January 26 during Monday’s KIIS FM breakfast show
Sandilands then sent a message to critics of the holiday, saying: ‘Let me tell you: those who aren’t happy with Australia Day don’t have a holiday! Go to work.’
It came days after Sandilands criticized Australia Day “whiners” during a radio interview with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
“Australia Day is exactly one week from today, January 26, and I know some people don’t like that date, but that’s the date. It’s there, it’s been there for as long as I can remember. In a week all the anti-Australia Day types will be out,” Sandilands said.
“I can’t believe I have to thank everyone for allowing us to use the land, but we can’t celebrate it on a national holiday,” Sandilands raged. (Image: Woman holding a ‘Change The Date’ sign during an Invasion Day protest on January 26, 2023)
Sandilands then sent a message to critics of the holiday, saying: ‘Let me tell you: those who aren’t happy with Australia Day don’t have a holiday! Go to work’
‘People want us to feel guilty. I don’t feel guilty. I don’t feel guilty about this day at all.’
Elsewhere in that interview, the shock jock claimed that even if Australia changed the date, “people will still have a problem because there are people who always bitch about everything.”
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 it is considered ‘Invasion Day’ or the ‘Day of Mourning’, with many campaigning to abolish the holiday entirely or change the date.
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. (Pictured: Reveler celebrating Australia Day)
While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not explicitly mentioned plans to change the date, an increasing number of municipalities and state governments are choosing to cancel traditional Australia Day activities, including citizenship ceremonies.
In recent years, Invasion Day protests have overshadowed all festivities, with thousands attending rallies in major cities demanding the date be changed.
Major protests are expected this year after the referendum to enshrine the voice of indigenous people in parliament in the constitution was rejected in October.