Media release – Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania, 15 December 2021
MANSELL CALLS ON BUSINESSES TO ENGAGE ON INVASION/AUSTRLIA DAY
LET EMPLOYEES DECIDE IF THEY WANT HOLIDAY ON JANUARY 26TH OR ANOTHER DAY
Land Council Chairman Michael Mansell has called on Tasmanian businesses to show social responsibility about the divisive Australia Day on January 26th. “I call on businesses to allow those employees who feel uncomfortable about celebrating a race based national day to work on January 26th and take an alternative holiday in its place.”
“This is not businesses dictating to their workers: it is allowing a conscience vote by employees about the inappropriateness of the date of invasion of Aboriginal lands being the date used for a national day. Already KPMG has given its 9,000 employees the option as have PwC and Deloitte.
It is now time for Tasmanian businesses to engage in a national discussion about rubbing biased history into the faces of Aborigines every year. Unions, churches, local government and even State government employees should be given the choice rather than be told they must celebrate the invasion by taking a holiday on January 26th.
