A Victorian politician has called for the Australian flag to be flown at half mast on 26 January, reports the Herald Sun.
Greens MP Lidia Thorpe has told the paper that Australia Day celebrations are like dancing on the graves of her ancestors.
“We can’t celebrate a day that marks a day of invasion, a day of mourning,” she said.
“This country needs to own the truth of what’s happened to its first people. We need to own that we were invaded and atrocities occurred.”
Her comments come as Aussie tennis champ Pat Cash joins the push to move Australia Day from the 26th.
“I got to the stage I cannot celebrate Australia Day. I’m sorry,” he said.
“As an Australian who brought two Davis Cups home, representing my country, January 26 is not a day of celebration for me. People who really look into it would question that.
“That is not going to be a celebration for me, it’s like an Invasion Day, celebrating white England — English landing.
Victorian Greens MP Lidia Thorpe has suggested flags be flown at half-mast on Australian Day in remembrance of atrocities committed against Indigenous people. #9News https://t.co/FpLvmSnaFJ
— Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) January 15, 2018
