Prime Minister Criticizes Sussan Ley's Mars Analogy as Disrespectful to Indigenous Australians

Anthony Albanese called the comparison between the First Fleet and Elon Musk's Mars mission 'strange' and said it disregarded the presence of First Nations people on the continent.

Sussan Ley, deputy Liberal leader, likened the arrival of the First Fleet to Elon Musk's SpaceX mission to Mars during an Australia Day speech.
Ley's comments aimed to highlight the 'daring' nature of the colonial expedition and counter narratives portraying 1788 as an invasion.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized the analogy as 'disrespectful,' emphasizing that Australia was inhabited by Indigenous peoples for tens of thousands of years before colonization.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher also dismissed the analogy, calling it 'nuts,' while Coalition members defended Ley's remarks as a celebration of Australia's founding story.
The debate comes as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton pledges to restore pride in Australia Day, rejecting shame associated with the country's colonial history.