PM ‘disappointed’ by Dutton’s national Australia Day ceremony snub

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PM ‘disappointed’ by Dutton’s national Australia Day ceremony snub

Anthony Albanese says he is “disappointed” after Peter Dutton snubbed the national Australia Day ceremony in Canberra.

The Opposition Leader has been accusing the Albanese government of not showing the national day enough respect and called for federal mandates forcing local councils to hold Australia Day citizenship ceremonies and other events on January 26.

Currently, they can be held three days before or after January 26.

But Mr Dutton did not attend the most prestigious ceremony in the country’s capital.

The Prime Minister said on Sunday the “national Australia Day events should be attended by both sides of the parliament”.

Camera IconAnthony Albanese says he is “disappointed” after Peter Dutton snubbed the national Australia Day ceremony in Canberra. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia

“They should be bipartisan, and I attended every year as opposition leader here at the Australia Day events, and I attended the *********** of the Year Awards as well when I was invited,” Mr Albanese told reporters after the national ceremony.

“This is an inspirational day, here on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, and last night – it is one of the best events that anyone could ever go to.”

He went on to ask: “Why wouldn’t you participate in national events if you want to be a national leader?”

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Camera IconHundreds gathered on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin to attend the ceremony. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia

NewsWire understands Mr Dutton was in his home state of Queensland instead.

Mr Dutton’s office has been contacted for comment about his Australia Day plans several times and was yet to respond as of Sunday afternoon.

He posted a video on X calling on Australians not to be “afraid of celebrating” the national day.

“Australia Day is a celebration of the greatest country in the world, and we shouldn’t be afraid of celebrating it,” Mr Dutton said.

“To be an *********** is to have won the lottery of life.

“We have every reason to be patriotic and proud.”

‘Invasion Day’ protests were held nationally on Sunday.

Though, with polls showing the vast majority of Australians oppose changing the date of Australia Day, there is little indication Australians are “afraid” to celebrate on January 26.

Mr Dutton’s Australia Day claims against Labor stem from changes introduced a little over two years ago.

A growing number of councils have opted to drop ceremonies on January 26 since the Albanese government loosened rules around when they can be held around the national day.

To do so, Labor overturned a former Coalition government’s directive stripping councils of their right to hold citizenship ceremonies at all if they would not hold one on Australia Day.

Announcing the changes in December 2022, the Albanese government said the decision removed red tape.

Councils have welcomed the flexibility as they juggle the practicality of extreme heat and higher costs associated with public holiday rates for staff.

But some councils have been vocal about their opposition to marking Australia Day on January 26.

The date marks the date the First Fleet established a settlement at Sydney Cove, marking the beginning of Britain’s colonisation of Australia, and is seen by many Indigenous Australians as a day of mourning.

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