Its important to understand that colonialism is still ongoing. Many are asking whether Australia Day should be on January 26th. By moving Australia Day to another date, what are we losing? Its also not like this day has been celebrated for a very long time. What's on It wasn't until 1994 that the Australia Day public holiday was consistently held on 26 January each year. Indigenous designer, artist and activist, Rachael Sarra, explained the importance of this on Instagram. I should know, because thats the entire premise of the book I spent the past year writing: breaking down the arguments and counter-arguments of important social issues to help young people speak up about the stuff they really care about. Now, she said, Australians from all walks of life are more invested in learning more "about our shared history [and] understanding Indigenous perspectives". The survey was conducted by Vox Pop Labs for the ABC and is one of the largest conducted in the country. (CrescentWealth), Blog Its like an official slap in the face of the Aboriginal people. Sixty percent of Indigenous people have mixed or negative feelings about the holiday and more than half (54 percent) believe the date of Australia Day should be changed to one not. If it doesnt really matter to most people when Australia Day is held, but it does to the Aboriginal community, then why not just change the date of Australia Day? The tradition of having Australia Day as a national holiday on 26 January is a recent one. Connect the output pin of TSOP1738 to Arduino digital pin 11 to get the decoded output. 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. They considered it unsuitable to raise the Union Jack (flag) and moved to Sydney Cove instead. To change this we need a lot more than just changing the date of Australia Day, but to change this we might need a catalyst. We believe 26 January should be a day of learning, respect and reconciliation. The very best of TheLatch delivered straight to your inbox. // console.log('force ' + all_links.href); Many companies have actually started giving their employees another day off, like January 27th, and leaving January 26th as a working day. var f = d.getElementsByTagName( s )[ 0 ], Since Australia Talks last surveyed Australians on changing attitudes around Indigenous recognition in 2019, tens of thousands of people have marched through capital cities as part of Black Lives Matter protests. .podcast-banner.show_mobile { Each year, a growing number of Australians acknowledge that the 26thof January is not an appropriate date for an inclusive celebration. People are catching up and contributing their voices to the call to change the nation, but this is not a new discussion. 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Australia Day does not exist on January 26. When it comes to January 26, instead of organising a party with friends, consider attending an Invasion Day rally. Not to mention, the colonial structures that are at the foundation of the Australia we now know are still very much impacting on the experiences of Indigenous people, and ultimately, continuing to oppress and disadvantage them systematically. } 8 Reasons Why The Date for Australia Day Should Be Changed. In 1938, 100 Aboriginal people from across the country chose thatdate to meet to condemn "the degrading and humiliating" treatment of Indigenous communities. external_links_in_new_windows_load(external_links_in_new_windows_loop); But Its Not True, Indigenous X published on The Guardian, 22 January 2018. January 26 is the legacy of the horrific past and the connection of this trauma to the present. If you need help applying or want to talk super, call us on 1300 926 626. "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. I still think it should remain in January so that people can enjoy a public holiday in summer and celebrate all the things that are great about being Australian. Specialising in community engagement and digital product growth Nebras has over 15 years experience in designing and delivering executable audience growth and content strategies across a range of leading industries and countries. A lot has happened in the last few years which has forced us to reflect on our values and the racial inequality of the world we still live in. w[ l ].push( { // console.log('ignore ' + all_links.href); Through his advocacy work, Mr Dawe wants to break the cycle of trauma which happens to Aboriginal children who are placed in out-of-home care. The only reasons I can fathom for opposition to changing the date is white privilege, or perhaps even racism. And no, its not being unpatriotic. function external_links_in_new_windows_load(func) j.async = true; why shotgun shell shortage Earlier this year, we temporarily stopped shipments of Wegovy 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg dose strengths. By the 1900s, the indigenous population was reduced by 90%, through a systematic method of displacement, and indoctrination of the tribes into the British culture. Stop supporting Whites who claim to be victimised Blacks! Australian Ethical acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the country on which we work, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and recognise and celebrate their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. A day to reflect on the dark parts of our history, so we can move forward together as a nation.. Even in 1938, on the first Day of Mourning, Australia Day was referred to as the anniversary of the whitemens seizure of our country, and nothing about that sentiment has really changed that much in the decades that followed. Thats when the First Fleet landed on Sydneys Botany Bay. The Australia Talks National Survey asked 60,000 Australians about their lives and what keeps them up at night. Putting ethics at the centre of everyday life. Australia Day as a public holiday was only nationally gazetted in 1994 so it's not even a generation that has thought of it purely as a celebration of national pride. Earlier this year the Prime Minister said it was important to mark the day as one on which "the journey to modern Australia began". 26 January is an important day in our history, but it is not a day for celebrations. Melbourne City Council likely to advocate Australia Day date change. (function() { Former Federal Communications Minister, Mitch Fifield, also joined the conversation, saying he was bewildered by the decision. Australia Day should be a day that reflects what our ideals are and how we imagine our country. Lets have a national day of celebration that includeseveryone. So, before you get into a Facebook comment war with a profile picture of a V8 Commodore, read the below excerpt from How to Win Every Argument: A No-Filter Guide to Being Right About Everything. }. You should consider seeking advice from an authorised financial adviser before making an investment decision. Secondly, changing the date would spare indigenous Australian and islanders the painful reminder of their loss of country, family and culture. The sovereignty of approximately 600 distinctly different cultural/language groups was never ceded. Its not like its such a big deal to most. There are no sound reasons why the date shouldnt be changed but there are plenty of reasons why the nation needs to change. Forms & Factsheets Whyshould Australia Day be changed? Check out our tips for writing to your MP here. His view is that Australia Day should remain on January 26, but he wants to see a national holiday on January 25 to honour Indigenous communities. Governance Documents, Crescent Institute The frontier wars did not result in victory for settler colonialists, because the fight is not over. We hope that soon Australia Day will be a celebration for all Australians, by all Australians, and one that embraces, or at least doesnt neglect, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures. It should not be relied upon for tax, legal or accounting advice. var oldonload = window.onload; These antiquated worldviews of white superiority will continue to haunt Australia until a critical mass has self reflected on power and privilege and whiteness, and acknowledges past and present injustices. I believe were almost there which explains the frantic push back. 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?. The dispossession of Australia's First Peoples began on this date in 1788 representing a day of mourning rather than celebration. Though it has been a staple of Australian media in recent decades to run a few stories acknowledging the existence of Indigenous people protesting Australia Day in one form or another (this year it was the Lamb ad and the Aussiebum undies ordeal so far), but thats about it. Should we change Australia Day? Many First Nations people, of course, need no convincing they have always known . s.src = 'https://au-script.dotmetrics.net/door.js?d=' + document.location.host + '&t=other'; h.appendChild(s); Australia Day should be the day we become a republic. Before then, in the lead to the 1888 celebrations, Henry Parkes the premier of NSW at the time was asked if he was planning anything for Aboriginal people on Australia, to which he simply retorted, And remind them that we have robbed them?. The date was again changed on July 30, 1915, when "Australia Day" was held as a Red Cross fundraiser for Australian servicemen injured in World War I. 'gtm.start': Trans-generational, or inherited trauma, is. The fact that it isnt is an interesting glimpse into the chasm of systemic racism. Maybe some Australians dont think about the negative connotations of celebrating Australia Day on a day with such bloody history, but many think its unacceptable. Crescent Foundation Thats where it all began, thats where Australia first started as it is known now, and thats where it needs to change first. Watch the evidence. It was also when Indigenous people began being oppressed - massacred,. The ABC shouldnt be buying into this debate, Fifield said at the time. By the 1900s the Indigenous population was estimated to have reduced by 90%. } )( window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-W5PMGDG' ); 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. . Australia has a long way to go Changing the nation involves settler colonialists being more aware of the history of invasion and brutal settlement, as well as the continuing impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Australia Day or Survival Day as they know it is a date of immense significance for the Dawson family from south-west Sydney. For decades, January 26 has been observed as a day of mourning for Aboriginal and Torres Islander people. The conclusion is quite simple. Read This If You Are Confused About Why People Wanna Change The Date Of Australia Day, I Used To Celebrate Australia Day Until I Realised What Jan 26 Meant For My People, How To Win Every Argument: A No-Filter Guide To Being Right About Everything, , No Matter Which Day the Country Chooses to Host, Its Australia Day, I Will Not Be Participating,, Why I No Longer Support #changethedate,, If Indigenous Voices Cant Even Be Heard on, Its Convenient to Say Aboriginal People Support Australia Day. There are now signs the Ukrainians could actually beat the huge Russian army. Let your local MPs know that this is an issue that is important to you. document.links[t].setAttribute('onClick', 'javascript:window.open(\''+all_links.href+'\'); return false;'); A Guardian Essential poll in. Two years ago the ABC asked tens of thousands of people to share their thoughts, feelings and experiences. Official slap in the country and the connection of this trauma to present... 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