Aussie gov't condemns public broadcaster's decision to move music countdown from Australia Day

Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-28 11:26:19|Editor: pengying
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CANBERRA, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The decision by Australia's public broadcaster to move a popular music countdown away from Australia Day has been condemned by the country's communications minister.

Triple J, an Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio station aimed at young people, said on Monday that the Hottest 100, a countdown of the year's best songs as voted by the people, would be moved from Australia Day to the last Saturday of January (Jan. 27) from 2018 onwards.

The station said the decision to move the countdown was in response to an online poll held earlier in 2017 in which 60 percent of people voted to change the date.

Australia Day is celebrated on Jan. 26, the same date the First Fleet of British ships arrived in Australia in 1788.

The day has become increasingly controversial in recent years with the country's indigenous population referring to it as "Invasion Day" and treating it as a day of mourning.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield on Tuesday slammed Triple J's decision and asked the ABC to reconsider the change.

"There are a relatively small number of people who have an issue with the fact that Australia Day is celebrated on Jan. 26," Fifield told reporters.

"I already have made my view clear to the ABC. And I'll be asking the board of the ABC, who have the ultimate programming and editorial responsibility, to reconsider this."

In a statement published on Tuesday, the ABC reaffirmed its support of the move, saying Triple J management had consulted with its audience, the music industry and indigenous people.

"Triple J's community continues to celebrate the countdown and the great music, now over an extended weekend, while the network has more time to join the rest of the ABC in providing comprehensive coverage of Australia Day," it said.

"Its 2018 program includes an interview with the Young Australian of the Year, and crosses to other Australia Day activities, including Indigenous events like Yabun."

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