Albanese’s remarkable words on the frontier wars should have been said at the war memorial | Paul Daley

The Labor leader’s assertion of the historical ‘holes in national memory’ around frontier violence and resistance is commendable and important

Ever since Australian troops fought under a British flag in the disastrous Gallipoli invasion and retreat, mainstream national politics has been beset with historical memory loss.

A contradiction of history, thanks to wartime prime minister Billy Hughes, who spun disastrous military defeat into the national moment, has eclipsed so much critical continental experience that came before and after Anzac by which we might otherwise define ourselves.

Related: Amid the false history over 26 January, it pays to consider what Australia was really built on | Paul Daley

You’d be aware of course that nobody yet in a position similar to yours & at a similarly official event within the War Memorial has found the stones to actually say what the par you omitted contained, what needs to be said. You had a great opportunity to show leadership on this. https://t.co/4YJJdHCm7Z

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