After the Fremantle City Council‘s widely-applauded decision to move official Australia Day festivities away from January 26th in a mark of respect for Indigenous Australians and their communities, some sort of backlash felts (sadly) inevitable.
“I note this has occurred twice in the last decade and the Government will be monitoring the situation closely.”
“Fremantle Council has conducted Australian Citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day for the last five years, and the Government would strongly encourage this important tradition to continue.”
Morton went further in a statement, lambasting Fremantle City Council and calling their decision “a disgrace.”
“This politically correct, backward-looking approach from the council actually divides Australians and takes us further away from reconciliation.”
Hmm.
“We thought it was time to acknowledge it wasn’t a day of celebration for everybody and it was an opportunity for us to come up with a different format on a different day that could be truly inclusive.”
The council is yet to issue comment on the threats from the Federal Government.