A conservative commentator believes people should just stay home if don’t want to celebrate Australia Day.
Sydney Watson slammed Kmart after it revealed it would not be selling Australia Day merchandise in the lead up to January 26.
She wrote on Twitter: “I am sick to death of this. I am sick to death of a fraction of the population calling the shots for the rest of us.
“I'm tired of people sh*****g on nationalism, patriotism and the days we celebrate our nations. If you don't like it and don't want to celebrate it? Stay home.”
Her remarks garnered a significant amount of backlash.
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One user wrote: “Weird way to say you’re okay with violence against your indigenous people!!”
Another said: “‘Calling the shots?’ A store is not selling a thing. Switch to decaf, Karen.”
A third commented: “Our history is quite bad …….. terrible things were done in the creation of Australia.”
While some users agreed with Watson, as one wrote: “Disgusting move by Kmart Australia!!”
And another shared: “I'm not Australian but I totally share the feelings. Stop self-hating. Celebrate your identity and your history.”
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With the pressure mounting for the date to be changed, many members of the Indigenous community have revealed how they’ll be spending the day of mourning ahead of the 26th.
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Bobbi Lockyer, a Kariyarra, Ngarluma, Nyul Nyul and Yawuru woman, who is an artist, told Urban List that as the day signifies ‘destruction and colonisation’, she prefers not to engage at all.
She said: “Instead, I stay home with my kids, and we do something special together. Whether that be a walk on Country, some craft or painting”.
Bobbi added: “I’d also love to see people support Indigenous people—artists, musicians or content creators and promoting those Blak voices as social media can really amplify those voices."
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Employers are also increasingly giving their staff the option to work on Australia Day despite being a public holiday.
The move comes after big corporations recognise that January 26 is not a day of celebration and are giving staff an option out of respect for all First Nations people.
Woolworths, Telstra, Wesfarmers, KPMG, BHP, Deloitte and Paramount are some of the major companies who have publicly announced they would give their workers a choice.
According to ABC News, Beverley McGarvey and Jarrod Villani from Paramount said: "We recognise that January 26 evokes different emotions for our employees across the business and we are receptive to employees who do not feel comfortable taking this day as a public holiday."
Charisa Bossinakis