National Australia Day Council message leaves us out. Here it is:
Absolutely nowhere does the National Australia Day Council message thank the colonial ancestors who settled this nation and built the modern concept of ‘Australia’.
It asks to respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It asks to respect multicultural Australians and their stories.
But makes no mention — at all — of the bulk of individuals that came and built this nation from whom the majority of us are descended.
And frankly, it’s insulting.
The message of an ‘inclusive’ day doesn’t really work if you EXCLUDE Australians.
How hard is it to say, ‘And thank you to our colonial ancestors who settled Australia and brought with them democracy, Western Enlightenment, and built the cities we proudly share’ or something like that?
This organisation wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for their sacrifice – and yet they are left nameless.
We are not just ‘people who travelled here’. We are the descendants of BUILDERS. There is actually a difference that should be properly and respectfully acknowledge.