An outspoken Victorian Liberal MP has been criticised by her party leader for “hurtful” comments to Indigenous people.
Upper house MP Bev McArthur, an opponent of the voice to federal parliament, issued a statement last week denouncing Geelong council’s decision to cancel Australia Day.
In the release, she wrote people should be grateful for the “wonderful things that have been enabled via colonisation”.
“Firstly—democracy itself. The arrival of communists instead of the First Fleet would no doubt have created a different outcome,” she said.
“Should we also say sorry for hospitals, roads, mobile phones, ready food at supermarkets, homes, running water, electricity for light and warmth, indigenous-only medical centres, aged care and court processes?…