Australia Day: The need for a better date.

Recently I came across a debate about changing the date of Australia day as the current date reflects the past of what Australia used to be and not what we want it to be, which has been going on for decades now. The day represents the invasion of Australia for the Aboriginal Australians and by having a day of celebration on the same date as a day of dread and sorrow is disrespecting the Aboriginal Australians as it hasn’t been fair with them because in the past they were considered as flora and fauna.

26th of January marks the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet in NSW , the day the British officially colonised Australia. It is the day when the flag of Great Britain was raised at Sydney Cove by Governor Arthur Phillip. On the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the fleet it was declared the first public holiday in NSW eventually becoming a nationwide holiday .

The Day of Invasion

For Aboriginal Australians this day is a day of deep sorrow and depressing loss. Loss of their sovereign rights to their land, Loss of family and friends and loss of the rights to practice their culture and beliefs. Invasion day was the day when the first settlers arrived to the shores of Australia (Now known as Port Jackson), this was on the 26th of January 1788. Here the Indigenous population was devastated with mass killings and the spread of disease, now it has become a day of celebration.

“We’ll be having a quiet day. Not feeling comfortable with celebrating it anymore. We need a conversation or solution to determine how and when to celebrate a national day that is inclusive of all Australians.” — Denise O

I just feel like it’s not something I can get excited about anymore. Times have changed and we know too much to be ignorant.”— Adrienne B

People say Australia Day marks the anniversary of the day a new nation was formed and thus should be situated on the day the First Fleet arrived. What they fail to see is how the beginning of one nation lead to the downfall of another. How when the beginning of this ‘new’ nation began the destruction of the cultures and traditions of another also started. 

Alternative Date

Alternative dates have been proposed by many Australians, the government just has to listen. According to a Womans Weekly Article, Australian Historian Dr Aron Paul believes the date should be changed to January the 1st since that’s all stats came together to form the Commonwealth of Australia.

Another popular date suggested is May 8th since it somewhat sounds like our favourite Aussie word, ‘Mate’.

Some Australians think that changing the date won’t help anyone as this won’t be beneficial for the Aboriginal Australians. This is flawed because having separated both days will mean that Australians are starting to give equal right for the Aborigines.

Australia Day is supposed to include the whole of Australia. It is meant to be a joyous occasion that should be celebrated by the whole country uniting people regardless of their background or culture but when this is a reminder of sadness and sorrow for the Indigenous Australians how can we be happy with this date? Is this what it means to be Australian? We need to make Australia Day live up to its name, to include the whole of Australia and change the date.