Anthony Albanese has lashed out at Peter Dutton over his comments on Australia Day, telling the Opposition Leader to ‘just chill out’.
The Prime Minister was asked at Friday’s National Press Club of Australia address whether he supported calls to boycott pubs and businesses that don’t get behind the day of national celebration on 26 January.
‘I sometimes think that Peter Dutton every year has a fight with an imaginary friend over something that most Australians are just getting on with,’ Mr Albanese told reporters.
‘One of the things that Australia Day celebrates is the fact that we’re not a Soviet-style command system.
‘You know, like, just chill out! Get on with life. The debates over which company has thongs in it! Last year, it was… boycotting Woolworths, Australia’s largest employer.
‘Did I support that? No, I didn’t support that. I support Australia Day.’
Mr Albanese said he would be taking part in events in Canberra on Sunday.
The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) was asked at Friday’s National Press Club address whether he supported calls to boycott pubs and businesses that don’t get behind the day of national celebration on 26 January
Last week, Daily Mail Australia revealed that at least 154 councils are not welcoming any new citizens on 26 January (pictured: Australia Day revellers on Cronulla Beach in 2022)
‘I hope that Peter Dutton joins me in a bipartisan show of support for our national day in our national capital,’ he added.
The Liberal Party leader promised to force councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on 26 January if elected.
In late 2022, the Albanese administration scrapped a previous rule which mandated that councils held citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.
At the time, Mr Albanese insisted there were ‘no changes here’. But it led to over 80 councils last year deciding to scrap citizenship ceremonies on January 26, up from just four a year earlier.
Last week, Daily Mail Australia revealed that at least 154 councils are not welcoming any new citizens on 26 January.
Australia Day, observed each year on January 26, marks the landing of the First Fleet in 1788 when the first governor of the British colony of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip, hoisted the Union Jack at Sydney Cove.
But, for many Indigenous people and younger Australians, it is regarded as ‘Invasion Day’ or the ‘Day of Mourning’, with protests being held in every major city each year.
Mr Albanese was speaking at the National Press Club of Australia to spruik a new pledge to offer apprentice tradies $10,000 in incentive payments from July 2025.
‘In occupations essential for residential construction, jobs like bricklayers, electricians, plumbers and carpenters, we will be providing eligible apprentices up to $10,000 through our new Housing Construction Apprenticeship Program,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘Five payments of $2,000 each, on top of their wages. This means that apprentices in residential construction will now get the same training incentives as those in the energy sector.
‘More new homes, more new energy – and more support for the tradies who will build both.’
