Roger Cook: Holiday date change avoids WA’s ‘macabre’ colonial history

Roger Cook has tripped up over a key date in WA ’s history while defending his overhaul of public holidays against Opposition criticism that it abandons historical accuracy.

The Premier called it “pretty macabre” that a day to celebrate Western Australia was ever linked to the moment the “first woman settler” cut down a tree to mark the foundation of the Swan River Colony.

Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas got the date wrong on Sunday, when he questioned why WA was moving away from “history and tradition” by shifting WA Day from June to November.

“We know it was the date because that’s when Mrs Dance chopped down the tree to mark the foundation of the Swan River Colony,” Mr Zempilas said on Sunday.

“We’re moving away from that history and tradition, apparently, because of the we