Australia Day, observed on January 26th, has long been a day of celebration, marking the arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson in 1788. However, this date also carries the weight of a complex and painful history for Indigenous Australians, for whom it represents the beginning of British colonisation and the subsequent impact on their communities. As the nation grapples with its identity and history, some historians are advocating for a significant change: moving Australia Day to a different date to foster unity and reconciliation.
The debate over Australia Day’s date is not new, but it has intensified in recent years, reflecting a broader conversation about Australia’s colonial past and its effects on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Historians like Dr. Benjamin Jones from CQUniversity and Professor Angela Woollacott from ANU argue that January 26th is inherently divisive and that a new date could represent a step towards healing and inclusivity.
The controversy surrounding Australia Day has led to a patchwork of responses at the local council level. Some councils have chosen to move citizenship ceremonies away from January 26th, citing respect for Indigenous sensitivities, while others have reinstated ceremonies on the national holiday after community consultations. This reflects a nation at a crossroads, with differing views on how to commemorate its national day.
The federal government has given councils the flexibility to hold citizenship ceremonies on or around January 26th, but this has not quelled the debate. The Coalition has even pledged to mandate ceremonies on Australia Day if it returns to power, highlighting the political dimensions of this issue.
Amidst this backdrop, historians like Dr. Jones suggest that March 3rd, the date of the Australia Acts in 1986, could serve as a new Australia Day. These Acts severed the remaining legal ties between Australia and the United Kingdom, symbolising Australia’s full independence. This date, they argue, could be a day that unites rather than divides, celebrating Australia’s sovereignty and community spirit.
Professor Woollacott envisions a future where Australia, as a Republic, could celebrate its national day on the date that change takes effect, marking a moment of national maturation. Until then, she believes that the debate over January 26th will persist and that a new date is the only way to ‘clear the deck’ and allow Australians to feel good about their country without the shadow of historical controversy.
The discussion around Australia Day is emblematic of a broader global reckoning with colonial histories and their legacies. It raises important questions about how nations remember their pasts, address historical injustices, and create inclusive narratives that honour all citizens.
What do you think about the proposal to change the date of Australia Day? Could a new date foster a more united Australia, or is January 26th an integral part of the nation’s identity that should be maintained? Share your thoughts and experiences with us, as we navigate the complexities of history, memory, and identity in modern Australia.
Also read: Australia Day 2025: Woolworths expands offerings with a new focus
It wouldn’t matter what date Australia Day was. The minority group don’t want any date. Considering that there are less than 3% true Indigenous Aboriginals in Australia but an additional 7% who pretend that they are part Aboriginal, then we are pandering to an extreme minority group. January 1st would be appropriate with the actual Public Holiday being on January 2nd, making it a double holiday. Open for comments.
It’s not just this “minority group” that you refer to that has an issue with January 26th. Why should the rest of Australia be made to celebrate the founding of New South Wales? Australia consists of a number of States and Territories that have been proclaimed on different dates. Federation Day or the March 3rd date would be more appropriate, more inclusive and less contentious. By the way, I don’t recall a census question that asked “Are you a pretend Aboriginal?” so who knows where you’ve pulled that figure from. Just under 1 million Australians are of Aboriginal heritage. That’s quite a significant number and their advocates should be listened to despite the NO vote brought about by fear-mongering politicians. While the exact number of deaths as a result of colonisation is unknown, many Aboriginal men, women and children died of introduced diseases to which they had no resistance such as smallpox, influenza and measles. Many also died in random killings, punitive expeditions and organised massacres i.e. genocide. That all began on January 26th so if I was of Aboriginal descent I wouldn’t want to celebrate that date and as a South Australian, I don’t want to celebrate NSW’s big day either. Change the date!
If you took a survey in remote indigenous communities regarding January 26 being called Australia Day I wonder what the result would be, I think it would be at the bottom of their to do list especially if you prevented the inner city activists from being involved. No matter what day was chosen there would be kick backs from the activist class, who only want to deny any reference to Australia Day, the go to around the world is to punish all people who are not considered indigenous to whichever country you are in, or dare to say punish anyone with the wrong colour skin or genetic background.
Another strange phenomena is the defacing of statues on or before Australia Day, Captain Cook had nothing to do with the colonisation of Australia, he arrived in Australia in April so had nothing to do with with January 26th, he also never claimed that he found Australia another myth used to stir up local activists, it’s well documented that Cook had access to a map showing exactly where Australia was, which had been known as New Holland after the Dutch had been here, other countries also claim to have visited Australia but found it inhospitable and not worth settling in.
Some have suggested that we should change the date to January 1st, the activists would object to this day because it only represents the colonists so therefore would be equally distressing to indigenous people, the only day that could be agreed upon is by a decision by all the different tribes that existed before colonisation ( 300/500 ) at last count, it couldn’t be called Australia Day because that name is not recognised by other than the colonisers. We recognise indigenous people on many occasions, perhaps we should cancel all these dates and replace them with one day that can recognise all indigenous people and their history pre colonisation.
You mean another strange “phenomenon”. Phenomena is the plural of phenomenon.
The correct date should be 7th of February. That is when Capt. Phillip read the Proclamation to all persons who arrived ashore from all ships, claiming the land was now part of England. Not the 26th of January because only a few of the crew were ashore with Capt. Phillip raising 3 cheers for their arrival at the Cove. What would have happened if the Dutch had claimed the land as a Dutch colony? The same thing, I think.
I believe changing the date will make no difference to some people white or black because all they want to do is stir Australia up not keep it peaceful.
Call the 7th of February “Proclamation Day”. and get rid of the 26th of January as
“Australia Day”.
Even that date would be as irrelevant to most Australians as January 26th because both relate to the founding of what became New South Wales. Australia is now comprised of other States and Territories that were all proclaimed on different dates so Federation Day January 1st or the March date mentioned in the article are both more appropriate, less contentious and inclusive for celebrating our nationhood- and let NSW celebrate Jan 26th.
Historians are not “weighing in”. A minority want change but this minority will never be happy even if there is a change. It must stay as it is.
Yourlifechoices and similar groups keep stirring the pot every year because it causes controversy and hence interest in their site. It’s good for business hey Yourlifechoices?
It definitely needs to change. I would like to see Australia Day on the last Monday in January, no matter what date that is. Minimal, but important change.
The date should be changed. Let’s be clear on several points.
1. A national day should celebrate and recognise the achievements, the growth and development of a nation. That can be celebrated on any day.
2. January 26 represents not the establishment of a nation, but the establishment of a penal colony. Recall our history, we were not established as a free society, but a convict outpost of a far flung nation. The date represents Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove raising the British Flag for the colony of New South Wales.
We were subordinate, not independent, not self governing, but a prison, where the unwanted were transported.
3. I agree March 3 is a good date as would May 9.
Why these dates?
Firstly, the Australian Constitution was established by an Act of the British Parliamebt and given Royal Assent by Queen Victoria. It in theory could be repealed at any time. To remove any ambiguity the Australia Acts were passed by the Australian, and UK Parliaments. State and Territory Parliaments had also passed legislation.
To me this represents self government, independence and maturity.
May 9 was the date our first Commonwealth Parliament sat in 1901.
4. There is the indigenous issue. January 26 represents subjugation and invasion to our First Nations people, it is reason enough to change it.
5. It has not always been on January 26. It was for example in WW1 set at July 15. The AWM does have banners in its collection commemorating this date.
6. Some have linked it to citizenship Act passed in 1940’s. The act was passed on that date because of its connection to Australia Day. Australia Day was not set to commemorate the Act.
An important point, we were not just Australian Citizens. We were then still British Subjects. Even British Subject appeared on Australian issued passports until 1960’s.
Thank you for your thoughtful comments
Actually 26 January was the enactment of the first Citizenship Act 1949 where all British Subject (as Aussies were called then) became Australian citizens however it’s since been replaced with a new Citizenship Act enacted in ?September and subsequently Citizenship Day is on that date in September hence I see no issues with Councils holding citizenship ceremonies in September on that date
As far as I am concerned Australia Day is now Invasion Day and will remain so until we as a nation face up to our past and educate our children to the truth historically.
Doesn’t matter what date it is!
You are either proud to be Australian or you are part of the weak,woke, brainwashed trash that contribute nothing, but are at the head of the whinging, whining, poor me queue.
Let’s have a referendum, and get rid of this crap, once and for all.
Oh! I forgot, we tried that with the voice, and the whinging minority are still given major air play by the ABC and there left wing biased sycophants.
You are either proud to be Australian or you are part of the selfish, thoughtless, uncaring brainwashed trash that hate contributing to help fellow Australians and are at the head of the “I only care about me queue”.
We can’t have a referendum on this because they are for changing the constitution and this isn’t a constitutional matter. Oh! I forgot the voice referendum was undermined by misinformation spread by the haters , given major airplay by Fox News and THEIR (NOT there) right wing biased sycophants.
Unfortunately it won’t matter what date is chosen it will be controversial.
I am a proud New Australian of 66 years, having arrived at 20 and the had to wait 6 years before I could adopt Citizenship. And I swore allegiance to this country only, no dual citizenships then.
Yes dreadful things have happened in the past to the Aboriginal people, no excuse, but just look at world/humanity histories. Embrace the future and leave the past.
This is the best country in this troubled world. So count your blessings.
It doesn’t matter what date Australia Day is moved to, someone will have a whinge. I think the historians that weighed in on the change are perhaps struggling for relevance and recognition. Leave the bloody day alone; someone will always whinge. It’s about this time of the year that they come out of the woodwork and become pests. The Yes referendum turned out to be overwhelmingly a NO referendum, yet the activists are still at it; over 60% of the population said no. Suck it up people; Australia Day is Jan 26.
I grew up in a WASP world. Now look at it?
Obviously ALL Australians know we got shafted by an Act of defiance by the Brits who had Federation enacted on 1 January knowing full well that we already had a Public Holiday.
Now apart from those who passionately advocate to celebrate Australia Day on 26 January in defiance of the Indigenous people (who we all know that these people have more colourful names for them) and the other main cohort is the Patriots.
However where is our 4 July ???
We as the author reconfirmed my thoughts that after researching History- there was an Act of Parliament which we officially “cut off the Brits” and actually began independent!!! That date of enactment was…..
Once we get the Australia Day holiday sorted – let’s put the Red back into our Flag (as was officially ruled that only government buildings could fly the Blue)
Canada had a red UK inspired flag too before they created the cool looking Maple Leaf flag that they proudly fight the jihardists with.
The USA constantly updated their Flag
Ok Boomers – we haven’t got long before the next Covid 2.0 is released to cull the aging population – so make the most of it now and make sure your will is up to date so the grandchildren can get their early inheritance.