Australia: Australian police are investigating the vandalism of a Captain James Cook statue in Sydney. The statue was covered in red paint and impaired just days before the Australia Day weekend. This marks the second time in a year that the monument has been targeted.
The statue, located in the Randwick suburb, had its hand, face, and nose damaged in the attack. Councillor Carolyn Martin condemned the act during an interview, calling it “a disservice to the community and reconciliation efforts.”
First unveiled in 1874, the statue underwent repairs in 2023 after a similar incident when it was vandalised with red paint and suffered sandstone damage. Vandals have also targeted other Captain Cook statues across the country, often coinciding with Australia Day.
In 2024, a Cook statue in Melbourne was cut down, with its plinth spray-painted with the words “the colony will fall.” In previous years, similar monuments were graffitied or damaged, highlighting the polarised views surrounding the legacy of Captain Cook.
Australia Day, celebrated annually on 26 January, commemorates the arrival of Britain’s First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788. However, the date is controversial for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, who see it as a painful reminder of colonisation and dispossession.
While many Australians view the holiday as a celebration of nation-building, there have been growing calls to change the date. Despite this, recent polling indicates a majority of Australians support keeping the current holiday.
The Randwick Council has urged respect and dialogue, emphasising the importance of reconciliation over divisive acts. Police investigations into the vandalism are ongoing.
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