Johnathan Thurston backs calls for conversation on changing Australia Day date
Updated
Johnathan Thurston believes Australians need to be more informed about why the date of Australia Day is hurtful to Indigenous people.
Thurston, 36, who is set to retire from rugby league as one of the sport's greats after the upcoming season, also urged governments to make Indigenous affairs a priority after an "alarming" failure to meet Close The Gap targets over the past decade.
Thurston said the country needs to "have a chat" about Australia Day.
On the anniversary of the First Fleet of British ships arriving at Port Jackson in 1788, Australians get a public holiday to celebrate the country's national day.
There are calls to change the date of Australia Day to make it a celebration that is inclusive of the people who lived here before those ships arrived.
For some Indigenous Australians, January 26 marks the day when their land was no longer only theirs and in the years since there have been several calls to stop marking the day with celebration but with "mourning and protest".
"It's not just about the First Fleet, it's about the stealing of the land, the misplacement of the stolen generation and the injustices that were done over the years," Thurston said.
"Australia Day is meant to be inclusive of everyone but obviously some in our culture don't feel included on this day.
"I think people need to be educated on why they don't feel included on this day."
He said he didn't have an alternative in mind.
"I do not have a date in mind at all, but yeah I think we certainly need to have a chat about Australia Day," he said.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Johnathan Thurston was pointing out that some people don't feel the date is inclusive of all Australians.
"I think Australia Day does need to be inclusive of all Australians, and it is a conversation that people will need to have and it is good that he is raising that issue," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"Tomorrow I'm going to be here in Townsville for the Australia Day flag raising ceremony.
"As part of that ceremony there is an Indigenous welcome to country that is acknowledging our history.
"I know that people are going to be celebrating tomorrow what is great about Australia, and I believe that is our willingness to be inclusive."
The NRL superstar is Queensland's Australian of the Year and one of eight finalists in the running for the national award to be announced in Canberra on Thursday.
Thurston said sport had given him a platform to pursue his passion of mentoring the next generation of Indigenous Australians.
"Our culture has been around for thousands of years and the way we're going it's not going to be around for thousands more," Thurston said.
"We need to be making sure the Government is putting Indigenous affairs at the forefront of their campaigns."
AAP/ABC
Topics: government-and-politics, national-days, community-and-society, australia, townsville-4810, brisbane-4000, canberra-2600
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