January 21, 2018
Member for Nanango, Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington, has come out strongly in support of Australia Day, saying any change in the date would not do anything to benefit Aboriginal communities.
The Courier-Mail newspaper reported this week that staff of GOLDOC, the Organising Committee for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, had been invited to an “Invasion Day” barbecue and pub quiz by a colleague.
Mrs Frecklington said this was another case of “politically correct madness” infecting the upcoming Games.
“My husband (Jason) works with young indigenous people,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“He has worked with Indigenous communities for many years.
“He is passionate about upskilling local Aboriginal youth in agriculture and the benefits of community.
“When I talk to him about people wanting to move Australia Day he says: ‘You try telling a mother who is simply trying to get her kids to school, find work, and pay their electricity bill that changing a date will do anything for herself, her family or her community’.”
Mrs Frecklington said life-threatening but preventable diseases, substance abuse, domestic violence and unemployment were the serious issues facing Indigenous communities, not changing Australia Day.
She said the latest controversy followed the news that tax dollars had been wasted on a “PC-laden guide” for Commonwealth Games volunteers that cautioned them against using terms such as ‘ladies or gentlemen’ or ‘boys and girls’ for fear of offending Games visitors.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to make clear to Queenslanders where she stands on issues,” she said.
“Does she believe Australia Day is Invasion Day or not?
“Does she believe Commonwealth Games volunteers should be able to call people ‘ladies and gentleman’ and ‘boys and girls’ or not?
“Does she think GOLDOC would be better off releasing the train timetable for the Games or focus its attention on this PC garbage?”
“For the record, I believe Australia Day should stay where it is. Moving Australia Day will do nothing about the poor life expectancy, job prospects, high incarceration rates or fix issues of overcrowded housing for indigenous Australians.
“They’re the issues that should be debated in this country, not changing a date.”
- Editorial: There Must Be A Better Date (published 2016)
