Erin Molan unleashes on South Australian government for removing term ‘Anzac Day’ from its annual public holidays list

Sky News Australia host Erin Molan has blasted the South Australian government for its move to scrub the term “Anzac Day” from it’s official public holidays act.

The South Australian government passed the Public Holidays Act 2023 on Thursday which replaces the Holidays Act 1910, effectively removing the mention of Anzac Day, which will now be referred to as “25 April”.

The move has been described as “un-Australian” and “abhorrent”.

Molan started the show by addressing the state’s Premier Peter Malinauskas, who said this year: “South Australia is the Defence State, I think we can all agree. We always have been and always will be. It is an honour and a privilege that we do not take lightly.”

The television host fired up after airing the clip of the South Australian leader’s remark, saying: “Don’t you dare touch Anzac Day. Over my dead body.”

“This is how those who seek to change our way of life, influence our values, demonise our history and threaten our very existence begin their campaigns,” Molan said.

“Little innocuous actions that seemingly don’t matter – actually do.”

Her late father Jim Molan was a decorated former major general who retired from the army in 2008 before turning to politics. He died this year after a battle with cancer.

Molan then referenced the large defence industry in South Australia which generated $1.2 billion in 2020-2021, with veterans constituting around 75 per cent of the sector’s workforce.

The state government’s advertising to encourage veterans to move to Adelaide to “work on these big and exciting defence projects” was scrutinised by a dubious Molan who said they are leaving the Australian Defence Force “in droves”.

“Morale has never been lower in this country amongst our current and former servicemen and women than it is right now,” she said.

“Many of them already feel unappreciated, undervalued and even despised in some quarters. 

“These are the people, if you need reminding, who defend our nation from all the evil in the world. And look at the Middle East, look at Europe, look north – there’s a hell of a lot of evil in the world.” 

The Defence industry in South Australia spearheads some of the most significant naval ship building projects in Australian history and develops many cutting-edge cyber and electronic warfare systems, hosting seven out the 10 world-leading defence companies.

Molan continued her rhetorical monologue and addressed the service men and women which the “sacred” day commemorates.

“It’s our annual reminder of the sacrifices made to keep us all safe. The lives given in our honour. And the least we can do is write it on a bloody calendar,” she said.

“Our Defence Force doesn’t need another reason to think this country is ashamed of them.”

Later in the show, Molan hosted former Australian special forces commando Wes Hennessey and asked whether ANZAC Day is now considered “politically incorrect”.

“These agendas are absolutely abhorrent to our culture,” Mr Hennessey said. 

“And we talk about the veteran community, the defence community and the current ADF, but I think we should be talking also about the patriotic Australians.” 

More than 30,000 people gathered at the Australian War Memorial on the 108th anniversary of Anzac Day this year, which is roughly the equivalent to the number of Australian lives lost in World War II.

Mr Hennessey referenced Australia’s “young history” and told Molan he was “extremely” concerned the South Australian government seemed to have “determination to gradually erode away the most important and sacred elements of that history”.

“It’s un-Australian and it’s very upsetting,” he said.

Political commentator and Hilma’s Network founder Charlotte Mortlock joined the panel and agreed with the sentiment, noting the importance of symbolism in culture.

“Symbolism is really important and this is one day of the year where Australia pays our respects… I also think it’s becoming trendy at the moment to be anti-your country or to be anti-patriotic,” she said.

“Those people who say, ‘oh, you’re making a big deal about it’, that’s because they are trying to get those changes through – little-by-little.

“And every time they take a win they are taking something away from Australian culture and Australian history”.

The new Public Holidays Bill 2023 replaces the Holidays Act 1910, removing references to Anzac Day, Christmas and the King’s Birthday, only referencing the dates of the “fixed” public holidays.

Anzac day has been commemorated since 1916, halfway through World War I, to remember the sacrifices of soldiers who have served in global wars.

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and is held on the anniversary of the Gallipoli landing, where 8,700 Australians died. 

About 60,000 Australians died in World War I and more than 30,000 died in World War II.