None of those things can only be done on the 26th of January, and if it was on any other day then maybe more Indigenous people would feel like celebrating with the rest of the nation. text-align: center; A catalyst for debate, an opportunity for change. .page-id-1799240 .entry-title { In fact, they label it a Day of Mourning, Invasion Day, or Survival Day.. The sovereignty of approximately 600 distinctly different cultural/language groups was never ceded. } )( window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-W5PMGDG' ); Since 1938, the 26thof January continues to be commemorated as a Day of Mourning. It is not just Indigenous people who have a long history of opposition to this date. .podcast-banner.show_mobile { More than half (53%) of millennials (those born between 1986 and 2002) think we should not celebrate Australia Day on January 26. Lets focus on the ways we can dismantle the more urgent challenges, rather than focusing on the date of this one day. breadboard. Hi everyone. document.links[t].removeAttribute('target'); The same holds true if someone names "co-executors" or "several . The opinions on these two options are incredibly mixed and each person has their own take on the issue. However, celebrating these things on the 26th of January can divide us as Australians by marginalising and offending many Indigenous people who see this date as commencing a chain of events that had disastrous consequences for many Indigenous people.. January 26 is a source of pain that non-Indigenous Australians just dont experience and sends a message to Indigenous people, the true custodians of the country we enjoy, that they arent part of the story of this nation. oldonload(); I've written about that date before, its origins and forgotten stories and recent almost-comical attempts to protect a public holiday. Young people overwhelmingly supported a new direction 65 per cent of Australians aged 18-24 and 71 per cent aged 25-29 were also in favour of a change. 2023 Australian Ethical Investment Ltd (ABN 47 003 188 930, AFSL 229949). If you are in immediate danger, call 000. h = d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], Even if the date is a floating one every year the same way Easter or the Melbourne Cup is decided. Warning: This article contains images of Indigenous people who have died. What is Australia Day? It was inconsiderate to have changed the date in 1994 to the 26th January. It only began to be a national public holiday in 1994 - making it a mere 27-year-old tradition. The 26th of January is a day that will always live in infamy. And I am not alone. It compares the demographics of the 60,000 survey respondents with census data to weight responses by sex, age, education, language, geography and vote to ensure the views of Australians are accurately reflected. The disparity between these two experiences couldnt be starker. Were joiningChange It Ourselves, celebrating Australia Day on a different date. The changing of the date of Australia Day would broadcast our sincerity and hope for reconciliation for what the first settlers committed. Considering that the Aboriginal people and their culture is an inherent part of Australia and its history, labeling a day they deem as derogatory and unworthy to be called Australia Day, should be taken into account. The conclusion is quite simple. "We are a multicultural country and a lot of people have come and married into our family and we need to do the right thing and respect all cultures," he said. Should we change Australia Day? if(change_link == true) { In 2017, the Australia Institute found a whopping 62% of people did not know what the day marked. The Hottest 100 wasnt created as an Australia Day celebration.. You should consider seeking advice from an authorised financial adviser before making an investment decision. He is the founder and CEO of IndigenousX. According to the Australia Day website: "The tradition of having Australia Day as a national holiday on 26 January is a recent one. Well, most people assume that the reason this day was chosen because that's when the First Fleet landed in Australia. In fact to all Aboriginals, January 26th marks the beginning of a long-standing oppressive regime that took away their rights, their unique cultures, and their resources. // forced We cannot change the date without overwhelming majority support for its replacement. Regardless of the emotional ties, it is, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, The day Australias course changed forever.. It's a day "for all Australians, no matter where our personal stories began, [to] reflect on being Australian, celebrate contemporary Australia and recognise our history," according to the National Australia Day Council. dm.AjaxData.push({ et: et,d: d,ssid: ssid,ad: ad}); Join over 10,000 members by joiningAustralias only Islamic Super Fund. Of course, many employees can choose to take both days off, so they can be with their families. Lets just party on a date where everyone can be involved! These are just a few of many reasons of why we should change the date of Australia day. "I note the survey was commissioned by the ABC for the use of the ABC, and the information provided about survey methodology is limited, which raises questions as to the reliability of its suggested findings.". Australia Day, holiday (January 26) honouring the establishment of the first permanent European settlement on the continent of Australia. Karen Wyld is an author, living by the coast in South Australia. Australia Day was not celebrated consistently on 26 January until 1994 Australia's national day of celebration has drawn much criticism recently from those who say it causes unfair hurt to. Traditional low carb, high fat keto s primary goal is usually rapid weight loss keto diet philosophy weight loss motivators or a reduction of . And that's one of many reasons why Australia Day should be changed from January 26th to some other more suitable day. Did you find this helpful? Here is why. { Your support will ensure IndigenousX is able to stay independent and keep making original content. The commemoration of this day has grown contentious in recent years as a result of a "change the date" campaign, in which supporters demand that Australia Day be moved from January 26 to May 9. We need to move to a date that is inclusive of all Australians. There are no sound reasons why the date shouldnt be changed but there are plenty of reasons why the nation needs to change. In 2004, a Newspoll survey that asked if the date of Australia Day should be moved to one that is not associated with European settlement found 79 per cent of respondents favoured no change, 15 . It will always be a day of protest for as long as there are things that need to be protested against. change_link = false; for (var t=0; t Obviously, he isnt considering the full picture and the entire experience of all the Australian citizens. Crescent Wealth acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It also marks the start of Reconciliation Week. // ignored The date signifies the beginning of a long, painful history of bloody genocide, slavery, stolen land and stolen children that lasted hundreds of years. The dispossession of Australia's First Peoples began on this date in 1788 representing a day of mourning rather than celebration. We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. Post continues below. "That doesn't mean we have got there we still have a long way to go but I do think the maturity shows we are now thinking about the relationship between [Indigenous and non-Indigenous people] and how we repair the relationship," she said. The information shown on this site is general information only. January 26 does have historical significance. func(); Lets show the Aboriginals that they are a true and essential part of the unique inclusivity that makes up Australia. s = d.createElement('script'); } '&l=' + l : ''; The ABC should honour it and not mess with the Hottest 100.. The prime, simple reason for Australia Day staying put is that most Australians want it that way so they can salute their nation. You could say that this was the day we finally came together as Aussies. Several local councils around the country have stopped celebrating Australia Day on January 26 against the wishes of the Federal Government. This is a fundraising ribbon circulated for the first Australia Day on July 30, 1915. Most people dont even care about that actual date, they just want a day off work, or to have a few drinks, or to have a barbecue, or whatever it is that people do. Changing the date is saying, we trust you to determine your own lives, we value your knowledge, and most importantly, its saying we dont want you to hurt anymore at the hands of our celebration. window.onload = function(){ In fact,every year around December, the debate starts over again. By moving Australia Day to another date, what are we losing? } January 26 is not a day for celebration - that's why news.com.au is campaigning to change the date of Australia Day, so we can celebrate the best country in the world, without leaving anyone behind. But there are some, like prime minister Scott Morrison who believes that the day should remain as it is. Ive written about that date before, its origins and forgotten storiesand recent almost-comical attempts to protect a public holiday. The first act that was passed after Federation was the Immigration Restriction Act 1901, commonly referred to as the White Australia Policy. 3. Wouldnt we want a date that represents our Australian way inclusive and multicultural? It does not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. Kamilaroi man and Channel 9 sports journalist, Jake Duke told Clothing the Gap that he would like to see the date of Australia Day changed. "I just like spreading the culture around.". In 1888 when Henry Parkes the premier of NSW at the time was asked if there was anything plannedfor Aboriginal people on Australia Day he said: And remind them that we have robbed them?. 10 de jul. Its important to understand that colonialism is still ongoing. Already others have suggested alternative dates such as ANZAC Day on April 25th. padding-left: 16px; display: none; But thats actually a false assumption. [CDATA[ */ } January 26 is the legacy of the horrific past and the connection of this trauma to the present. The marking of 26 January is an important date in Australia's history and has changed over time: starting as a celebration for emancipated convicts and evolving into what is . We hope that a constructive conversation can continue with the Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander groups so we can find an inclusive day to celebrate our Australian Day. The unfortunate reality for the Australia Day Council, and for the rest of the nation, is that this isnt an issue that is ever going to go away. : A Statement of the Case for the Aborigines Progressive Associations, The Publicist, 1938, p.3. "A celebration of Australia should happen on a different date so we can have a day of reflection on 26 Jan for the broad Australian population to become familiar with the atrocities that have been committed to the Aboriginal people since white settlement." Many responders said they just wanted a public holiday. Today's episode is a very important one. She saidthe change in attitude around Australia Day was a sign the country was "growing and maturing as a reconciled nation". For decades, January 26 has been observed as a day of mourning for Aboriginal and Torres Islander people. In 2016, Fremantle Council voted to change its Australia Day celebrations out of respect for Indigenous Australians, while Byron Shire Council in New South Wales has moved some of its festivities from January 26. Crescent Think Tank. } This shift became about as more folks became conscious and alert to the ugliness that followed the invasion of the land we now call Australia in 1788. You can buy her debut book How to Win Every Argument (from $4.99) here. change_link = true; if(all_links.href.search(/^http/) != -1 && all_links.href.search('www.pedestrian.tv') == -1 && all_links.href.search(/^#/) == -1) { And remind them that we have robbed them? After watching that video, we must make a change. Things like festival pill-testing, renewable vs. fossil fuel-generated energy, whether free speech is dead and, yes, a whole chapter on Survival/Australia Day. If you are an Australian, then you are aware of the debate that surrounds Australia day being on the 26th of January. // Load Moreover, another fire was lit when a 15-year-old Noongar Yamatji boy, Cassius Turvey, died in 2022. The date change is like the key to your house, you need it to open the front door, Sarra wrote. That was the day that Australias course changed forever. "It's a very significant day for the foundation of Australia, and . Indigenous people have called Australia home formore than 60,000 years, being custodians of theworlds oldest continuous living culture. You have almost exterminated our people, but there are enough of us remaining to expose the humbug of your claim, as white Australians, to be a civilised, progressive, kindly and humane nation., Aborigines Claim Citizen Rights! We pay our respects to Elders past and present and thank them for protecting Country since time immemorial. There has also been a marked shift in the number of people who "strongly agreed" celebrations should move. Australian Ethical will also nominate a new date to acknowledge our own Australia Day in the office, celebrating what makes us proud about our nation. } document.links = document.getElementsByTagName('a'); The survey was conducted by Vox Pop Labs for the ABC and is one of the largest conducted in the country. "Part of a maturing nation is the willingness to listen and learn from someone else's view and to keep a dialogue open," she said. We know that many of our staff will still choose to have 27 January off to fit in with their family and friends plans. To many Australians, Australia Day is just another day off. In June 2020, following the death of Black man George Floyd at the hands of the American police in Minnesota, Black Lives Matter protests occurred around the world, including here in Australia. A protest that has never dissipated in the decades that followed. Men's Journal is a rugged and refined lifestyle publication covering the coolest new gear, luxury and adventure travel, food and drink, health and fitness, and more. Thats where it all began, thats where Australia first started as it is known now, and thats where it needs to change first. The interesting thing is that out of the 364 other days that could be potentially celebrated as Australia Day, why this day was particularly chosen is mystifying? Australia Day or Survival Day as they know it is a date of immense significance for the Dawson family from south-west Sydney. Read more about why we need to change the date of Australia Day: } Six years later, triple js Hottest 100 is just as popular, despite not occurring on January 26 and theres barely been any discussion about the date change since. According to the ABC, its the Premier who actually has the power to change public holidays in their state, so writing letters to bring this to the attention of your state government is a start. You want a day to celebrate Australia. Its purpose is to shed light on important community-based issues facing minority groups. For many people, January 26 means two things: a public holiday and a boozy BBQ celebration. Crazily enough, it wasnt until 2008 that the then prime minister Kevin Rudd formally apologized to the Aboriginals for the atrocities committed against them, like forced child removals and cultural destruction through assimilation. First of all, adding your voice to this conversation helps to make it a lot louder. But Australia Day ends up being a blight on this picture-perfect scene. Lets have a national day of celebration that includeseveryone. Related:Why the Indigenous Voice to Parliament Isnt Going to Be as Straightforward as You Think, Related:Know Better, Do Better: The Best Aussie Podcasts to Educate Yourself on Indigenous History. By the 1900s the Indigenous population was estimated to have reduced by 90%. As more organisations seek to observe the history of the date, his two teenage daughters, Sienna-Swan and Krystal-Rose, perform at multiple ceremonies each year. 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