Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen and others make it happen. Australia Day, commemorated on January 26, is a national celebration honouring the First Fleet's settlement in 1788 and the unity of our country. While many Australians reap the benefits of the holiday, for many Indigenous Australians, January 26 marks the start of the barbaric displacement from their lands and the eradication of their traditions and dialects. This date must be modified as it is one of many days that can be Australia Day, it establishes acceptance to the plight of the Indigenous community and it is a reminder rather than a celebration.
Refusing to change the date of Australia day is unwise as it is one of many days that can be Australia Day. Recently, there has been a growing movement to change the date of Australia Day to one that is more inclusive for all Australians. Federation Day is an alternative that acknowledges Australia's history and founding as a nation. An opinion spoken by a news reporter shows
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By altering the date, it can help promote healing and reconciliation and allow acceptance. The deplorable carnage endured by the Indigenous has not been acknowledged, but instead, recompensed with a lack of respect and understanding. Why should this be allowed? Whilst some people beg to differ, this only further invalidates the Indigenous people’s feelings and beliefs, marginalising the Indigenous and thus, making them more prone to abuse. ‘It reminds me of the pain my own people had to endure,’ William Dawes expressed. Our nation has inflicted relentless bullying onto innocent souls, begging for respect by their own country. It is not too late to mend these souls and restore the respect they so rightfully deserve and desire for. To stitch the wounds of these hearts, injected by our own country’s actions, change the date of Australia date to accept the Indigenous
From the 1970’s Australians have been viewed as bush people as they were seeming as heroic and brave. Never the less, internationally, Australians have been showcased as vulgar, racist that have strong pride for their country. Consequently, Australia has also been viewed as an alcoholic nation as companies continuously push the stereotype to market their products. In turn, Australian’s collective identity is made up of multiple other stereotypes that have been fed into. Despite being incorrectly portrayed; the Australian identity has a positive effect on Australian culture.
This affects contemporary issues because it was only in 1992 with Australia’s “Mabo” case that Indigenous
In the Herald Sun, Andrew Bolt’s article ‘Seven Sins of the Change Australia Day Movement’, posted in the 27th of January 2017, asserts the negative and “sin” like properties of changing the date of Australia Day. The “change the Australia Day movement” has ignited a vehement debate that has divided Australians for years, and will most likely continue to. The procedural format clearly and concisely retorts that changing the date will not “heal wounds” and we, as a county, should be instead focused on fixing the issues within the indigenous culture. Bolt ignites the debate very early in his article by affirming that changing the date inevitably “solves nothing”. A strong authoritative tone is taken in the first argument when Bolt uses an
An opposing piece to this, entitled ‘Advance Australia, fair!’ by Tristan Fairchild was published. In his piece, Fairchild uses his experience as a cultural liaison supervisor to persuade his audience that changing the date of Australia day can only be a good thing. Fairchild employed a authoritative and passionate tone to reason that celebrating a day that is viewed as an invasion is un-Australian and that we should rather be celebrating a rich and extensive culture. Joined to this article was a picture of an Aboriginal flag being raised, rather than the British flag, at Botany Bay by James Cook.
January 26th represents the national public holiday, Australia Day. It is a day of celebration of the establishment of the country and at the same time marks the day a mass invasion begun on the Indigenous Australian population, resulting in deaths among their population. Ben Roberts-Smith’s opinion article, ‘We are one but we are many’ featured in the Herald Sun on January 26th, 2017; expresses optimistically that, Australian’s differences are what makes Australia great. He attempts to make the reader to reflect upon how lucky they are to live in ‘such a lucky country’. However, Kevin V. Russell’s letter to the editor entitled, ‘End Australia Day’ was also published in the Herald Sun on January 26th, 2017.
This highlights how the acquisition of rights for Aboriginal people was a fractured process as they still faced discrimination in the wake of changes that were meant to work in their favor. Although the Referendum did not increase the rights of Aboriginal people, it is still important in the Aboriginal Rights movement as it created the possibility for the Federation to create laws that could benefit or support Aboriginal
In an article titled 'No' vote will kill reconciliation, published on January 26th, 2023, in The Age, Noel Pearson argues that Australia's relationship with its indigenous peoples has never been settled, and the coming Voice referendum is an opportunity to do so. Pearson contends that the referendum aims to recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia and give them a voice in their affairs and that this recognition is foundational to reconciliation. Pearson's tone is assertive and urgent, aimed at Australians, particularly those who have been historically opposed to indigenous recognition but also those who are unsure of the Voice. His purpose is to warn that if the opponents of recognition succeed
The idea of the federation in Australia was introduced by a number of people over several decades, but it gained momentum in the late 19th century. It was introduced for the desire for greater unity and cooperation among the colonies, the need for stronger national defence and foreign policy, and the need for a national framework
The date of Australia day has been a large community discussion for many Australians. This day is a happy and positive day for many Australians and very important to some people. This is because it brings different people from different cultures that exist in our country together to celebrate the history that Australia has made. On both sides of this argument, if you want Australia Day to change, or stay the same, there is good evidence for this argument. Australia Day should most definitely stay the same for the following reasons.
We can strive for a society where Indigenous voices are heard, where the rights and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are respected, and where we work together to address the ongoing challenges faced by Indigenous communities. Furthering the work down with the voice to parliament referendum and not turning a blind eye to the past but moving past it together as one, as your predecessors have done Prime Minister and I am sure you will do through enacting this constitutional
The 25th of April is not in any way, shape or form just another day on the calendar! The 25th of April is a day when we bow our heads as a nation in remembrance of thousands of soldiers as young as me and as young as you. It is a day that represents what has given our country, the right to be free. It is a day that represents what has made us as a nation, become stronger. It is a day that represents the FIRST time Australia and New Zealand actually fought together, for each other and for the good of their countries.
Changing the date of Australia day is more than just a secondary issue for our nation. The week leading up to January 26th, and the week that follows, are essentially the only times of the year when the topic is actually prevalent within Australian news, which is a huge issue – this has led to a lack of understanding – and blatant ignorance – with non-indigenous people in regard to Indigenous Australians culture. The argument most Australians hold for not wanting to change the date is the fact that ‘changing the date won’t change the history behind it’ when that’s not at all the outcome that those who want to change the date are striving for. My name is Shehara Bradley, and I am here to inform you all of how important it is to change the day our nation celebrates Australia day, because change is more than necessary in order for all Australians to move forward. The media often trivialises this and misrepresents the history behind January 26th controlling the narrative that changing the date will ultimately make little to no difference, and therefore positioning their audience to believe the same.
Celebrating Australia day is like holding a party without inviting the hosts. While many Australians celebrate this holiday, they have little knowledge behind the events that occurred and why it is celebrated. If I’m honest, I haven’t been brought up, like many of my generation, to understand and acknowledge the events which occurred on this day. Instead for as long as I can remember I have seen the day as a public holiday where mum drags us to a boring family gathering, to play backyard cricket and observe the adults consume excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages. According to a poll conducted by Review Partners, much of the Australian population are unable to accurately name the event
This sudden change still has an enormous effect on today’s Indigenous population. How is it fair that the oldest population of people die a decade younger than non-Indigenous Australians? The perpetuation of racism which is manifested in our society has left many Indigenous Australians in a disadvantaged position. Including through, limited access to education with adult literacy rates of just 30 percent and literacy rates of children under 15 more than 48 percent lower than non-Indigenous Australians, consequently means lower educational achievement rates and higher unemployment rates of 17.2 percent compared to 5.5 percent for non-Indigenous Australians (Australian Bureau of Statistics , 2013 ). These facts must be recognised to ensure real equality and a fair-go for Indigenous people.
Where have you ever seen or heard of a monument for this day? Is there a special plark where the first fleet landed? Is there a statue to commemorate this date? No, then what's the point of celebrating this date if we don’t even preserve it? People may say this is a day that is only about Australia and that is why it should continue to be this date, but I'm sorry to burst those people's bubbles.