Sussan Ley compares First Fleet to Elon Musk’s Mars mission in Australia Day speech

Australia Day: A Tale of Two Colonizations

In an Australia Day speech delivered at St Matthew’s church in Albury, Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley sparked conversation with a unique comparison. She likened the arrival of the First Fleet to the contemporary efforts of entrepreneur Elon Musk to establish a colony on Mars.

"What Elon Musk is doing today with SpaceX on Mars, in a way, mimics what the British settlers undertook when they arrived here," Ms. Ley said. "Both ventured into the unknown, facing a strange world filled with danger, adventure, and potential."

The anniversary of the First Fleet’s landing at Sydney Cove on January 26, 1788, has become a complex date in Australia’s calendar. While many celebrate Australia Day, it’s also marked with "Invasion Day" protests nationwide. The day is seen as both the birth of modern Australia and, by some, a symbol of Indigenous dispossession and discrimination.

Ms. Ley acknowledged the controversy, noting that Australia’s colonization could have ended in disaster. However, she credited the society built by convict labour as a success, saying, "Today, we stand in a peaceful, prosperous, and free Australia. How can we not celebrate that success?"

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton vowed to end what he called "shame" surrounding Australia Day. "If we win the next election, we will restore pride and get our country back on track," he said.

Ms. Ley’s comments come amidst global attention on Elon Musk. The world’s richest man recently faced scrutiny for a salute at a Donald Trump inauguration event, with critics drawing comparisons to a Nazi salute. Musk has also made headlines for intervening in the electoral affairs of foreign nations, including the UK and Germany.

In Australia, Musk feuded with the government over.equals.{MARGIN: .RULING: Reversed; judgment affirmed.

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Musk: Then a self-recorder he keptDJ’d many parties at your humble abode,” DJ Khaled told
Elon Musk in a conversation on the social media platform X earlier this week, clearly indicating that Musk had once deejayed parties at Khaled’s home.

Dj Khaled later posted a screenshot of the conversation, unveiling his new song titled, “It’s Secured.” The song features another billionaire, Birdman, and husl, among other prominent figures.

Currently, Musk is dating Khaled’s sister, Nicole Tuck,so it is likely that the duo’s relationship goes way back.