Federal Member for Bowman, Henry Pike MP, has called on Australians to celebrate Australia Day proudly and loudly this year, as corporate interests once again threaten to cancel the holiday for everyday Australians.
It comes after one of the largest operators of pubs in the country, the foreign-owned Australian Venue Co, directed their pubs across the nation to not celebrate or even acknowledge Australia Day this year.
Mr Pike said the move from the organisation was not reflective of Australians’ sentiments.
‘We live in the greatest country on earth. Australia is a success story that we have all shared in and that should be celebrated on Australia Day,’ he said.
‘Pubs and venues should be places where our community can gather to share a laugh, have a drink or a meal, and enjoy each other’s company on Australia Day, as they do every day.’
‘Let’s call this for what it is: a foreign-owned organisation attempting to divide Australians and politicise our national day by instructing their Aussie pubs to not celebrate. Ordinary Australians won’t accept that.’
Mr Pike said the swift backdown that followed this story breaking indicates that Australians are fed up with being dictated to on how they celebrate the national day.
‘In less than one day, we saw the Australian Venues Co quickly apologise and backtrack on their earlier remarks. Everyday Australians made their voice heard, and heard loudly.’
While he welcomed this change of tune and the impressive show of people power that influenced it, Mr Pike warned that corporations and bodies won’t stop their attacks on Australia Day.
‘Every year like clockwork another business or organisation has a crack at tearing down Australia Day. While everyday Australians will continue to stand up, woke organisations will continue to pull these tricks,’ he said.
‘That’s why I’ve introduced my Australia Day Bill, which will ensure that our national day belongs to the Australian people and will only be able to be changed by a plebiscite, a vote of the people.’
‘There will always be detractors trying to make us ashamed to celebrate this great country. But by legislating the date, my Bill will ensure that our national day will always belong to Australians, not to woke corporations or governments who are hell-bent on dividing us.’