Western Victorian MP Bev McArthur has been rebuked by her party leader for “hurtful” commentary about First Nations People.
Responding to the Upper House MP’s remarks that Indigenous people should say “thank you” for the benefits brought by colonisation, John Pesutto said he didn’t accept her comments.
Ms McArthur recently issued media releases and wrote a piece in conservative publication The Spectator, blasting Geelong Council’s May 23 decision to ditch its recognition of Australia Day and replace it with Indigenous truth telling and cultural events.
“The Geelong City Council is effectively saying we are not a good nation – and we should remain in a state of eternal apology,” she said.
“To Cr Mason who says Australia Day is a day of sorrow and loss, does he not also reflect on the wonderful things that have been enabled via colonisation.”
Ms McArthur listed the introduction of roads, mobile phones and court processes to Australia as examples of why people should say “thank you”.
First Nations Australians are imprisoned at one of the highest rates of any people in the world, and at a rate of up to 16 times higher than non-Indigenous Australians.
“There are ways to conduct this debate without causing hurt or offence,” Mr Pesutto said.
“I don’t know what’s driving the way she said that but I do not accept that as a fair statement.”
The party leader was not willing to say if Ms McArthur – a factional opponent – would be cautioned over her remarks.
Geelong MP Christine Couzens last week described Ms McArthur’s comments as “outrageous”.
“First Nations peoples had their land stripped away from them, they had their children taken from them, they had their language taken from them,” she said.
“To even consider that that is a good thing is just blatantly wrong.
“People like Bev McArthur belong in the dark ages, and she should stay there.”
Image: Bev McArthur (Facebook)