Steve Price and Carrie Bickmore go head-to-head over "racist" statues
Carrie Bickmore and Steve Price have clashed over whether "racist" statues should remain standing.
On Monday night's episode of The Project, the panel discussed how Hobart City Council is planning to take down a statue of William Crowther, who removed the skull of Aboriginal man William Lanne in 1869 and sent it to London nine years before he became Tasmania's premier.
The council's move came after a report criticised there being "too many monuments to white males" who have racist and questionable pasts.
While Carrie understood the council's decision, Steve argued back, claiming everyday Aussies are happy to have historical figures honoured with statues and do not want to see history "erased".
However, Carrie bit back at Steve, claiming learning about history is how we are able to make change in the future.
"If they were erected by the public, perhaps that public at the time didn't have all the information," she said.
Price replied that "maybe they did have all the information and things have changed, times have changed".
Comedian Peter Helliar also chimed in on the controversial topic which has been up for debate in the US, UK and Europe as younger generations question whether statues of historical figures should remain if they are tarnished by racism or brutality.
"It doesn't erase the history at all," Helliar said.
"It just means we're not holding it up to be celebrated the way a statue invites you to do."
A fired-up Price said, "I think agitators would have us rip down every statue of Captain Cook or get rid of every statue of Captain Phillip."
Waleed Aly said statues of historical figures are viewed on "a spectrum".
"The Crowther case is a particular one, because of what he is alleged to have done," he said.
"I reckon there are people who would say that one should come down, Cook maybe is a different thing ... I'd just be wary of saying you're talking about monolithic views across the board."
Price simply said that he didn't like "erasing history ... I'm very uncomfortable about pulling statues down".
Hobart City Council voted 7-4 to remove the "contentious" statue from Franklin Square in the capital's CBD after years of campaigning from Aboriginal groups, labelling the monument "racist" and "barbaric".
Image credits: The Project