The satirical show ‘Always Was Tonight,’ hosted by Indigenous presenter and former AFL player Tony Armstrong, aired on ABC TV on January 21, 2026.
A sketch referenced a contested 1789 theory that British settlers deliberately spread smallpox to Aboriginal people near Sydney, killing about half the local population—though mainstream historians attribute it to accidental introduction, with no primary evidence of intent.
Critics like former MP Craig Kelly called it a ‘long-debunked myth’ meant to inflame resentment, intensifying calls to defund the taxpayer-funded ABC, while defenders praised its bold take on Indigenous perspectives amid ongoing Australia Day tensions.
