Samantha Armytage has spoken out about the controversial debate over Australia Day celebrations, saying she will recognize the day with pride.
The Channel Seven star, 47, announced on Wednesday she is decorating her home with Australian flags.
On Instagram, the Farmer Wants a Woman presenter shared an image of ten flags, placed in a silver cup on top of a coffee table in her home.
The former Sunrise presenter captioned the photo: ‘Best country in the world.’
In recent years, in the weeks leading up to Australia Day, there has been much discussion about whether it is wrong to celebrate the day the First Fleet arrived to colonize Australia in 1788.
Samantha Armytage has spoken out about the controversial debate over Australia Day celebrations, admitting she will proudly recognize the national day
Indigenous activists say the date should be changed.
Armytage is a staunch supporter of Australia Day on January 26, according to her social media posts and previous comments from her hosting days on Sunrise.
In 2017, she stood up to a mayor of a Melbourne suburb who said those who opposed her council’s decision to scrap Australia Day celebrations were “uneducated”.
Armytage confronted Mayor Kim Le Cerf in a heated interview, continuously pressuring the community leader about the little research the council based its decision on, and her claim that if “more Australians got educated they would be ashamed of Australia Day ‘.
“Aren’t you elected to make a decision on behalf of the people of your county?” Armytage said, interrupting Ms Le Cerf mid-sentence.
The Channel Seven star, 47, revealed on Wednesday that she is preparing for the start of the Australia Day festivities and is currently decorating her home with Australian flags
“Yes, in the interests of our community, and what we are hearing from our Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples is that January 26 marks the beginning of invasion and dispossession,” Ms Le Cerf said.
After a back and forth debate, Armytage confronted Ms Le Cerf about her comments about uneducated Australians.
‘Correct me if I’m wrong, but it has been quoted that if “more Australians were educated, they would be ashamed of Australia Day.” Do you support that? Do you support that now, on national television?’ the Sunrise host asked.
Ms. Le Cerf began to speak when she was interrupted by Armytage, who asked her point-blank if she stood by her comment.
Armytage is a staunch supporter of Australia Day on January 26, evidenced by her social media posts and previous comments from her hosting days on Sunrise (pictured)
“Yes, I do,” said Mrs. Le Cerf.
Meanwhile, Armytage’s successor Natalie Barr accused the Woolworths chief executive of making a political statement about Australia Day on Wednesday, prompting the supermarket boss to insist he is not trying to ‘cancel’ the national holiday.
The supermarket giant shocked customers earlier this month when it announced it would not stock any products on January 26 due to declining demand and sensitivities surrounding the day.
In response to the public backlash, the retailer has since taken out full-page newspaper advertisements with a letter written by its boss emphasizing that the retailer is not anti-Australia Day.
Meanwhile, Armytage’s successor, Natalie Barr, accused the Woolworths CEO of making a political statement on Australia Day on Wednesday.
“We are not trying to ‘cancel’ Australia Day, but Woolworths is deeply proud of our place in providing the fresh food that brings Australians together every day,” wrote Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci.
The South African-born CEO faced a backlash from Barr when he appeared on Sunrise on Wednesday morning.
“Is it ultimately your role to tell Australians what they can and cannot buy?” she asked.
In his response, Mr Banducci took a swipe at rival retailers who had rejected Woolworth’s move.
In recent years, the weeks leading up to Australia Day have been fraught with debate about whether it is wrong to celebrate the day the First Fleet arrived to colonize Australia in 1788.
‘The great thing about retailers is that we all make different decisions about what we want to stock. They made their decision and we made ours,” he said.
‘We are focused on providing great value for everyday needs so you can mark the occasion and celebrate the Australia Day long weekend with friends and family. That is our focus.’
Millions of Australians are gearing up for the long weekend as Australia Day quickly approaches.
While banks and all government agencies such as Centrelink will be closed on Friday, most major businesses will be open for at least part of the day.
