Lee Sales had asked Scott Morrison whether the bushfires and the coronavirus together would push Australia into a recession.

Every other Prime Minister in the past fifty years would have answered with Yes, or No, or "Not if I can help it". Scotty from Marketing, of course, answered with the first five paragraphs of a glossy brochure.

Enough of both this rubbish and the man who spouts it! He cannot deal with the world as it is, and catering to the fears and ignorance of those who can't deal with it either will only ruin us all.

Grant Agnew, Coopers Plains, QLD

I have had the privilege of visiting some important Australian symbolic sites at Gallipoli and Kokoda and reflect on the sacrifices, the barbarity, the nobility and generosity of Australians involved.

On the 27th January this year I took the opportunity to visit a much closer and equally important site at Myall Creek.

It is perhaps a reflection on "my white arm band" education that I have lived in New England most of my life and did not realise that Myall Creek was in my backyard.

Myall creek is where we publicly acknowledge that massacres of indigenous Australians occurred.

It is also where the law brought some of the perpetrators to justice.

The story of Danny Day, an ordinary policeman, doing his job and applying the law indiscriminately is a symbol of hope and reconciliation.

He was heroic where others were barbaric.

When I was a young boy travelling to school on the bus the "dark kids" had to sit at the back.

I remember my father voting to give indigenous people the right to be Australian citizens in 1967.

I travelled to New Zealand in 1975 and saw a country that celebrated its indigenous culture.

I had never seen that in Australia. Working in Adelaide in 1988 the bicentenary year I was introduced to indigenous art by patients who spoke an Australian language I had never heard.

I have Australian dust in my bones and am becoming increasingly aware and proud of my heritage that started long before 1788.

I can understand why the 26th January is not a day for indigenous Australians to celebrate.

Symbols are important in our psyche whether they are places or dates.

A day to celebrate our past and contemplate our future is important but the 26th January can never be inclusive.

I would suggest that all Australians should go to Myall Creek, walk in different shoes and reflect on the past.

Those with a generosity of spirit will understand and hopefully be prepared to change things for the better as my parents did in 1967.

It is time to change Australia day and give Indigenous Australians recognition.

Steve May, Tamworth

Send your letters online to www.northerndailyleader.com.au/community/yournews or email mail@northerndailyleader.com.au