Right and left factions have gone blow-for-blow on the issue of Australia Day at the state Labor conference.
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Elliott Bell, a leading figure from the party’s right-wing, opposed a motion moved by both the North Launceston and Lenah Valley branches to commit state Labor to changing the date of Australia Day.
It is argued that having our national holiday on the date that the First Fleet arrived on Australian shores is disrespectful to the first peoples.
Lucas Digney, the North organiser for the Australian Workers’ Union’s Tasmanian branch, supported the motion.
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“It needs to be moved … sooner not later,” Mr Digney, himself an indigenous man, told conference.
But Mr Bell said the conversation was “all symbolism” and that it would not provide good policy outcomes for indigenous Australians.
It was then that Mr Digney rose again.
“The date’s changing, comrades,” he said.
In spite of Mr Bell’s opposition, the motion was passed.
Labor also passed motions to establish an equality portfolio in caucus and to fund the Safe Schools program in Tasmanian schools.