Saturday, January 27, 2007

Australia Day Speeches and Politics

News that NSW Opposition Leader, Peter Debnam, had to be forced to tone down an Australia Day speech because it was too political is nothing less than shameful.

Australia Day is a day when we celebrate community, being Australian, being a multicultural society, and welcoming new citizens.

That Mr Debnam wanted to use a formal speech welcoming new Australian citizens to talk Party policies can only reflect badly on him and his party. It should have been a speech to welcome new citizens, not a speech to belittle multiculturalism and incite right-wing intolerance.

The Analyst