Bosses should let workers uncomfortable with the "race-based" date of Australia Day take an alternative holiday day off work, an Asutralian indigenous leader says.
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"It is now time for Tasmanian businesses to engage in a national discussion about rubbing biased history into the faces of Aborigines every year," Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania chair Michael Mansell said.
"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 26."
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Mr Mansell urged Tasmanian businesses to show "social responsibility" about the "divisive" January 26 date.
"I call on businesses to allow those employees who feel uncomfortable about celebrating a race-based national day to work on January 26 and take an alternative holiday in its place," he said.
"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 9000 employees the option, as have PwC and Deloitte."
Sean Ford
The Advocate Newspaper, Tasmania. Business, economics, politics, crime.
The Advocate Newspaper, Tasmania. Business, economics, politics, crime.
