Ben Fordham has slammed politicians after many eagerly embraced Chinese New Year celebrations but remained silent on Australia Day.
The 2GB host called out politicians during his breakfast show on Friday ahead of Chinese New Year celebrations over the weekend.
Fordham took aim at politicians for their ‘double standard’ after they shared Lunar New Year celebration posts to social media but ‘remaining silent’ on Australia Day.
‘How’s this for double standards? We have politicians at the moment celebrating Lunar New Year,’ Fordham said.
‘Posting selfies and wishing people a happy Lunar New Year and attending Chinese New Year celebrations.
‘But go back two weeks, and there was silence for Australia Day. No selfies, no “happy Australia Day”, no Australia Day celebrations.’
Radio host Ben Fordham (pictured) slammed politicians for having a double standard after many shared photos wishing people a ‘Happy Lunar New Year’ but ‘remained silent’ for Australia Day celebrations
Fordham took aim at NSW Premier Chris Minns, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, Minister for Industrial Relations Tony Burke, Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Environmental Minister Tanya Plibersek.
Premier Chriss Minns shared photos celebrating Lunar New Year at a festival in Hurstville, south of Sydney, to social media on February 3 with a caption wishing everyone a ‘Happy Lunar New Year’.
However, Fordham noted the premier did not wish Aussies a ‘Happy Australia Day’ on January 26, but instead shared photos at an Indigenous morning ceremony.
He added the day before Australia Day celebrations; the premier also shared a countdown for the Gay and Lesbian Sydney Mardi Gras festival.
Fordham then slammed Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore for announcing a 16-day ‘party’ for Lunar New Year and labelling Australia Day as ‘not for celebration’.
Fordham noted New South Wales Premier Chris Minns shared photos of himself celebrating Lunar New at a festival in Hurstville, in Sydney’s south, to social media (pictured)
However, on Australia Day, Premier Minns only shared photos of himself attending an Indigenous morning ceremony and did not wish Aussies a ‘Happy New Year”
‘We have the Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore. She kicked off Lunar New Year calling it a “party”,’ Fordham said.
‘She announced Sydney was throwing a 16-day party to celebrate, which is fantastic. She said it was one of the city’s most important events.
‘On social media, Clover Moore said “Australia Day is a day that marks invasion”. She says it’s not a day for celebration. So, we’re not allowed to celebrate one day on Australia Day but for Lunar New Year it’s a party that goes for more than two weeks.’
Fordham said other members of the front bench also remained silent on their social media accounts on Australia Day.
‘Penny Wong didn’t say anything about Australia Day. Tony Burke was silent, so was Chris Bowen and Tania Plibersek,’ Fordham said.
He added Communications Minister Michelle Roland also exhibited a double standard.
Ms Roland wished Aussies a ‘Happy Indian Republic Day’ on January 26 – the same date as Australia’s national holiday.
Republic Day is a national holiday in India that commemorates the country’s transition to a republic in 1950.
Fordham said India’s Republic Day was ‘the only thing worth celebrating’ on January 26 for Ms Roland.
Fordham called out Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore (centre) for announcing a 16-day ‘party’ for Lunar New Year
The Lord Mayor (second from left) shared photos of Australia Day protests and an Indigenous morning ceremony. In her caption, she claims Australia Day is ‘not a day of celebration’ and is one that ‘masks invasion’
‘If you have a look at her [Ms Roland’s] social media accounts, she said: “Happy India Republic Day. May this occasion bring celebration, laughter and togetherness” which is nice,’ Fordham said.
‘But for Australia Day she couldn’t use the words “Australia Day”. No talk of celebration, or laughter or togetherness.’
The radio host commended Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for wishing Aussies a “Happy Australia Day” on social media but claimed he was ‘the odd one out’.
Fordham said other members of the front bench remained silent on Australia Day despite some sharing photos celebrating Lunar New Year (pictured, Environmental Minister Tanya Plibersek at a Lunar New Year festival)
Fordham said he had ‘no issues’ with India’s Republic Day or Lunar New Year and added that Chinese Australians have made an incredible contribution to the country for hundreds of years.
However, he claimed the politician’s double standard for celebrating significant dates for other countries and not Australia’s was ‘warped’.
‘Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got no issues with India’s Republic Day or Lunar New Year but it’s a bit warped isn’t it?,’ Fordham said.
‘Our politicians want to celebrate every single significant date apart from the one that celebrates our national day.’
Australia Day, observed each year on January 26, marks the landing of the First Fleet in 1788 when the first governor of the British colony of New South Wales, Arthur Philip, hoisted the Union Jack at Sydney Cove.
But, for many First Nations people, the date is regarded as ‘Invasion Day’ or the ‘Day of Mourning’, with thousands in the country’s capital cities taking part in protests rallying to change the date of the national holiday.