Australian basketball legend Andrew Bogut has declared an Australia Day date shift would change nothing.
The former NBA star on Thursday hit out at suggestions nobody should be allowed to celebrate the national holiday as debate continues to swirl around the controversial January 26 date.
Australia Day marks the day the First Fleet hoisted the British flag at Sydney Cove in 1788, which makes it a day of trauma for First Nations people as it marks the arrival of European colonisation.
There were protests and demonstrations across the country on Thursday at Invasion Day rallies with thousands of Australians marching in solidarity with First Nations people.
Sporting organisations across the country also showed widespread recognition for the holiday as a source of trauma for many Australians. Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith also made a public plea calling for Australia to “change the f**king date”.
Bogut, however, says the pendulum has swung too far with suggestions some Australians are being stopped from celebrating the day on their own terms.
The 38-year-old said on Sky News changing the date will not accomplish anything.
“I’m of the opinion if you change the date it’s going to mean nothing anyway,” he said.
“If you change the date it’s just going to move the goalposts.”
He said people on both sides of the debate need to be more respectful of each other’s positions.
He said “it’s just bonkers to me” that people would want to stop others from celebrating.
“If people want to celebrate it, I don’t have a problem with it. If people don’t want to celebrate it, I’ve got no problem with it,” he told Sky News host Paul Murray.
“But trying to cancel other people’s right to celebrate it, it’s not very inclusive.
“I’ve got friends that are naturalised Australians who aren’t from Australia who see that day as a very special, emotional day for them.
“If you don’t want to celebrate, strop trying to cancel other people’s joy.”
