Change the date activists ‘don’t want to celebrate Australia whatsoever’

Institute of Public Affairs Research Fellow Saxon Davidson has hit out at Dick Smith’s calls to change the date because it would “concede ground” to activists who don’t want to “celebrate Australia whatsoever”. Entrepreneur and former Australian of the Year Dick Smith has joined in calls for Australia Day to be renamed. He said, ‘I think we could have this First Fleet Day and also change the date of Australia Day to something else that’s more inclusive.’ “I’m not in favour of changing the date or the name of Australia Day because it is actually conceding ground to these activists who don’t want to celebrate Australia whatsoever,” Mr Davidson told Sky News host Liz Storer. “You can’t concede ground; we must remain on January 26 as the majority of Australians wish it to be.”