Prime Minister Scott Morrison calls for Australia not to focus on differences ahead of ‘Invasion Day’ rallies

Scott Morrison has declared Australia Day is not a day to focus on “our differences”, as tens of thousands of people prepare to attend “Invasion Day” rallies and dawn services memorialising Indigenous lives lost are being held across the country today. Calls to change the date have ramped up again in the lead-up to January 26, while Federal Independent MP Zali Steggall suggested a minute’s silence be incorporated into official ceremonies - backed by Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney. But the Prime Minister urged for less division on Australia’s national day. “Of course there are many controversial issues,” he said on 2GB “But today it’s a day just to come together and... be thankful for being Australian.” He said that regardless of people’s stories, experiences or differences, “today is not a day to focus on that”. “Today’s the day to focus on ... who we are, where we’ve got to and where we’re going,” he said. Mr Morrison also penned an opinion article in the Australian stating Australia had “risen above” its history. “There is no escaping or cancelling this fact: for better and worse, it (January 26) was the moment where the journey to our modern nation began,” he wrote. “In Australia we believe in the unique value of each Australian as individuals, rather than seeing or indeed allowing ourselves to be defined solely through the identity prism of our age, race, gender, ethnicity or religion. “As Australians we are more than any and all of these things, and together we share and steward our Australian inheritance.” Invasion Day rallies are under way across the country, with the biggest turn out expected in Sydney where over 7,000 people registered their interest to attend. Organisers applied for an exemption for the 500 person cap on large gatherings, which NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard refused. The nephew of David Dungay Jr, who died in custody in Long Bay jail in 2015, addressed the crowd at the rally declaring “we want the date abolished”. “We don’t want no date to be celebrated,” he said. “The Australian government is out here celebrating this date like it is a birthday or Christmas when our ancestors were killed. How does that make sense?” A Melbourne rally has also begun this morning with thousands expected to turn up, despite Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews urging Victorians not to attend or risk a COVID-19 outbreak. An Invasion Day Rally will be held in Perth at Forrest Place from 12.30pm. The procession will leave Forrest Place at 2.00pm