Tony Abbott says Turnbull’s wrong when it comes to invasion vs settlement of Australia

While Malcolm Turnbull has been trying to build good relationships with leaders of various communities, including the Aboriginal and religious ones, Tony Abbott has stated doesn’t believe that Australia was ‘invaded’ in 1788. He believes what happened then “involved a very big change, and it was a change that had pretty big consequences for the Aboriginal inhabitants of Australia.”

In his interview with conservative commentator Andrew Bolt, the former prime minister declared, “I certainly wouldn’t use the word invasion. The terminology I use is settlement. If people think that’s too benign, well fair enough, say that Australia was occupied if you like.”

In the interview, Tony also expressed that there was a need for ‘serious Muslims to think about how “There are elements of Islam which are very hard to reconcile with a modern secular pluralist society” and that these Muslims need to address this issue. This is in the wake of Malcolm trying to smooth over the discord caused by Tony with Muslim leaders while he was in power.

What are your thoughts? Would you describe what happened in 1788 as an invasion or a settlement?