LISTEN TO AUSTRALIAN CORRESPONDENT SAM EMERY TALK WITH LARRY WILLIAMS

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called for a “special day” to recognise indigenous people.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph yesterday, Morrison called for a separate day to acknowledge the 60,000 years of indigenous history instead of a replacement to Australia Day.

He reiterated his decision on both the Today Show and Sunrise this morning.

“That is the day the ships turned up. That is the day 60,000 years of history in this country moved into the most recent, modern form of our history,” the PM told Today.

“We can’t pretend it was some other day that that happened. That is the day it happened, and that is the day where we have to deal with everything and we have to embrace it all, warts and all, and accept our successes and acknowledge where we haven’t done so well.

“There are scars from things that have happened over the last 200 years and more, and we look at that like anyone looks at their entire life. I mean, it is not all perfect. It doesn’t always go the way you would want it to and our national day is an opportunity to reflect on all of that, but ultimately to be positive.”

On Sunrise, the PM said he suggested the date change because “you have a whole group of people trying to tear down Australia Day”.

“We don’t have to pull Australia Day down to actually recognise the achievements of indigenous Australians. The oldest living culture in the world,” he said.

“The two can coexist. Australia Day was the fulcrum point. That was the day that Australia changed forever. We can’t pretend it wasn’t that day.” 

Former Prime Minister and special envoy on indigenous affairs Tony Abbott said Australia Day was “a day for everyone, including Aboriginals”.

“The point that I started making as Prime Minister is that Australia is the country with indigenous heritage, British foundations, and an immigrant character … and that indigenous heritage is one of the three great pillars on which modern Australia is built.” Abbott said on 2GB this morning.

“I think these days we are all very proud of the fact that we do have an indigenous heritage, we want it to be honoured and celebrated so I don’t think there is any desire on the part of anyway to exclude Aboriginal people from the celebration of Australia Day.”

The PM stripped Byron Shire Council of its authority to conduct citizenship ceremonies earlier this week after the northern NSW council announced plans to shift the date to January 25.

It comes after a number of Melbourne councils were stripped of their right to conduct citizenship ceremonies last year after they said they would stop holding them on January 26.