Promoting legend Invoice Muirhead, who was additionally a founding member, stated it was “un-Australian” to cancel Australia Day.
“The final time I checked, January 26 was nonetheless Australia Day,” Muirhead stated.
The Excessive Fee of Australia wished to cost the charity a minimal of £29,000 ($55,000) to carry the occasion, as an alternative of working prices, impose a curfew of 11pm and proposed that the Australia Day Gala be held in March as an alternative of close to Australia Day, leaving organisers with no possibility however to cancel.
“It’s well-known that Australia Day touches on sensitivities for some Australians,” a spokesman stated in an announcement.
“The excessive commissioner is completely happy to acknowledge that was a part of the decision-making course of with respect to the assorted various dates recommended by the muse.”
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The spokesman hit out at former excessive commissioners, who embody profession diplomat Lynette Wooden, former attorney-general George Brandis, former South Australian premier Mike Rann and Australia’s longest-serving international affairs minister, Alexander Downer.
“On Excessive Commissioner Smith’s arrival on the Australian Excessive Fee in January 2023, there have been no outlined, revealed strategic goals for the Australian Excessive Fee London,” the spokesman stated.
“Excessive Commissioner Smith circulated a clearly outlined set of strategic goals to all employees of the Australian Excessive Fee and Australia Centre on Might 17.”
The record of strategic goals is topped by AUKUS and the Australia-UK free commerce settlement, which had been signed throughout Brandis’ tenure.
Opposition international affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham.Credit score: Alex Ellinghausen
Opposition international affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham known as on the federal authorities to overrule Smith’s edict, saying occasions just like the gala had been “extra than simply events”.
“It’s not a excessive commissioner’s place to unilaterally change the date of Australia Day,” Birmingham stated.
“Stephen Smith doesn’t simply appear to be a killjoy who’s ashamed of Australian historical past however can also be trashing a first-rate occasion that promotes funding, journey and commerce with Australia.
“Penny Wong and Don Farrell ought to overrule this ridiculous choice that burns the goodwill and status of an occasion constructed up over a few years by proud expats completely happy to offer their time to advertise our nation.”
Opposition Chief Peter Dutton additionally known as on the prime minister to reverse the choice saying Australia Day shouldn’t be cancelled.
”Australia Day is our nationwide day and it shouldn’t be cancelled like this,” he stated in a publish on X.
Smith was believed to be Albanese’s third selection for top commissioner as the federal government struggled to fill the publish for nearly a yr.
Together with former treasurer Wayne Swan, Smith headed a factional grouping known as the Roosters and performed a key function in toppling Kevin Rudd as prime minister throughout the Rudd-Gillard Labor management wars.
Rudd, after being reinstated, stored Smith in his cupboard as defence minister. Smith retired from federal parliament in 2013, the yr Labor was booted out of workplace after its ill-discipline.
Three years later, Smith spectacularly and unsuccessfully tried to resurrect his political ambitions by trying to oust Mark McGowan, complaining that the West Australian Labor chief was unelectable.
McGowan prevailed and never solely received on the poll field in 2017 however went on to all however remove his political opposition when re-elected premier in 2021, earlier than retiring in 2023 on the top of his energy.
McGowan’s reputation helped increase federal Labor’s fortunes on the 2022 election, after which newly topped Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appointed Smith for the plum posting in London.