League star's message to Australians on national day

Pink paint is seen covering the head of the James Cook statue. Photo / AAP

League star Johnathan Thurston believes once Australia is more informed about why the national holiday's date is hurtful to indigenous people, change will happen.

The 36-year-old, who is set to retire from league as one of the sport's greats after the coming season, also urged governments to make indigenous affairs a priority after an "alarming" failure to meet Close The Gap targets over the past decade.

Thurston said the country needs to "have a chat" about Australia Day, which is today.

"It's not just about the First Fleet, it's about the stealing of the land, the misplacement of the stolen generation and the injustices that were done over the years," Thurston said.

"Australia Day is meant to be inclusive of everyone but obviously some in our culture don't feel included on this day.

"I think people need to be educated on why they don't feel included on this day."

The NRL superstar is Queensland's Australian of the Year and one of eight finalists in the running for the national award to be announced in Canberra last night.

Meanwhile, a statue of Captain James Cook and a memorial to explorers Burke and Wills have been vandalised in Melbourne in the lead-up to Australia Day.

Pink paint was dumped on Cook's head at St Kilda yesterday, with the words "no pride" painted beneath his feet, along with the Aboriginal flag.

Australia Day is meant to be inclusive of everyone but obviously some in our culture don't feel included on this day.

Johnathan Thurston

A bluestone monument near Melbourne Zoo marking Burke and Wills' journey to Australia's interior was also vandalised, with green paint and the word "stolen" daubed on it.

Federal Citizenship Minister Alan Tudge said the vandalism was a "disgrace".

"These people are trashing our national heritage by doing what they're doing and they're achieving nothing in the process," he told 3AW radio yesterday.

"You can't rewrite our history.

"I want Australia Day to be a great unifying day for our country, it has been for many decades now."

Australia Day has been marked by a public holiday on January 26 since 1994, to mark the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney, but had been recognised on numerous other dates in previous decades.