Kyle Sandilands has sent a tough message to Australians who refuse to celebrate Australia Day on January 26.
The 52-year-old KIIS FM breakfast presenter, who is known for his right-wing political views, made the comments about the upcoming national holiday during a heated tirade on the show on Monday morning.
Sandilands lost his temper at the start of the broadcast after receiving a memo from KIIS' content director about the sensitivity surrounding the national holiday.
He first launched an attack on the “woke media industry” for discouraging employees from celebrating the holiday, then pointed out what he said was a double standard.
“I can't believe I have to thank everyone for letting us use the land, but we can't celebrate it on a national holiday,” raged Sandilands.
Kyle Sandilands, 52, (pictured) delivered a tough message to Australians who refuse to celebrate Australia Day on January 26 during the KIIS FM breakfast show on Monday
Sandilands then sent a message to critics of the holiday, saying: “Let me tell you: those who are unhappy with Australia Day don't have a holiday! Go to work.”
It came days after Sandilands criticized Australia Day “whiners” during a radio interview with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
“Australia Day is today, exactly a week from now, January 26th, and I know some people don't like that date, but that's the date. “It's there, it's been there as long as I have can remember. “In a week all the anti-Australia Day types will be out,” Sandilands said.
“I can't believe I have to thank everyone for letting us use the land, but we can't celebrate it on a national holiday,” raged Sandilands. (Pictured: Woman holds a “Change The Date” sign at an Invasion Day protest on January 26, 2023)
Sandilands then sent a message to critics of the holiday, saying: “Let me tell you: those who are unhappy with Australia Day don't have a holiday! 'Go to work'
“People want us to feel guilty.” I don't feel guilty. I don't feel bad about the day at all.'
Elsewhere in the interview, the shock jock claimed that even if Australia changed the date, “people are still going to have a problem because there are some people out there who are always complaining about everything.”
Australia Day, celebrated on January 26 each year, marks the landing of the First Fleet in 1788, when the first governor of the British colony of New South Wales, Arthur Philip, raised the Union Jack at Sydney Cove.
But for many First Nations people it is considered a “Day of Invasion” or “Day of Mourning,” and many are lobbying to scrap the holiday altogether or change the date.
Australia Day, celebrated on January 26 each year, marks the landing of the First Fleet in 1788, when the first governor of the British colony of New South Wales, Arthur Philip, raised the Union Jack at Sydney Cove. (Pictured: Revelers celebrate Australia Day)
While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not mentioned any explicit plans to change the date, a growing number of city councils and state governments are opting to cancel traditional Australia Day activities, including citizenship ceremonies.
In recent years, Invasion Day protests have overshadowed any celebrations, with thousands taking part in rallies in major cities demanding a change to the date.
Large protests are expected this year after the referendum to enshrine an indigenous voice in parliament in the constitution was rejected in October.