padding-left: 16px; Its important to understand that colonialism is still ongoing. // console.log('ignore ' + all_links.href); They considered it unsuitable to raise the Union Jack (flag) and moved to Sydney Cove instead. The only way to aspire towards a day where we can come together as a nation is to change the date. Each year a person is named Australian of . We need to abolish Australia Day and change the discourse it shouldnt be a day of celebration but a day of remembrance.. // Its key because changing the date of Australia is an invitation, its an invitation for us mob to feel at home in our own country. Keeping politics out of Australia Day Your achievements and a few scars and from some mistakes and things that you could have done better.. And how can we celebrate our nation on a date that so many mourn? Why should Australia Day be changed? . The Commonwealth of Australia was formed on May 9, 1901, when Australia's first parliament convened and the six British colonies merged to . By moving Australia Day to another date, what is the Indigenous community gaining? We want to use this platform to provide some information on why we believe that Australia Day should not be celebrated on January 26, if at all. It is the plain and simple truth of what the 26th of January represents, regardless of how you phrase it. While its undoubtedly an uphill battle to get governments to listen, its not impossible, which is why pressure needs to be continually applied for them to listen. But every celebration, every BBQ, every family gathering, is tainted by the knowledge that this day was the beginning of the end for many Aboriginal people. It is then we will be able to achieve a day that celebrates all the things we love about our great southern land and also creates a new, inclusive day of celebration for our First Australians. It took only 120 years to eliminate 90% of them. Below is an excerpt from Crystal Andrews book How To Win Every Argument: A No-Filter Guide To Being Right About Everything. Two years ago the ABC asked tens of thousands of people to share their thoughts, feelings and experiences. You dont pretend your birthday was on a different day you look at your whole lifes experience, Morrison said. They had been living on this land now called Australia for more than 60,000 years and most were all gone within a bit more than a century. The date change is like the key to your house, you need it to open the front door, Sarra wrote. But changing the date of Australia Day is something we can do now. function external_links_in_new_windows_load(func) There is a growing movement in Australia to 'change the date' of Australia Day to a day more inclusive of all Australians. Social structures implanted by the new arrivals were not beneficial for First Peoples, who were barred from economic participation and denied genuine access to education, health and justice until approximately the 1970s. Whyshould Australia Day be changed? The date will change. In fact, many have decided to join the movement of Change It Ourselves. Instead of waiting for the governments to do something about it, they have decided to take the first step themselves. Crystal Andrews is a journalist, author and founder of social news platform @zee_feed. Earlier this year the Prime Minister said it was important to mark the day as one on which "the journey to modern Australia began". And that's one of many reasons why Australia Day should be changed from January 26th to some other more suitable day. Australia Day should be the day we become a republic. If this article brings up any issues for you or anyone you know, or you have experienced targeted violence, please contact Lifeline (13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), both of which provide trained counsellors you can talk with 24/7. Of course, many employees can choose to take both days off, so they can be with their families. 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?. I would like to receive the IndigenousX monthly newsletter. But that's actually a false assumption. A day we come together and reflect on our collective national history. } It is insensitive and exclusive, it is no longer taken seriously, and the 26th doesn't mean as much as we think. That was not the . The Indigenous communities declared it a Day of Mourning that remains recognised to this day. It will always be the day that the First (not really) Fleet came to Australia. The fact that it isnt is an interesting glimpse into the chasm of systemic racism. Photo: AAP 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. Today's episode is a very important one. Now, she said, Australians from all walks of life are more invested in learning more "about our shared history [and] understanding Indigenous perspectives". As the public broadcaster representing all Australians, triple j and the ABC doesnt take a view in the discussions, triple j said in a statement. Having lived on this continent for close to 80,000 years and surviving the violence of colonisation and ongoing injustices of non-Indigenous settlement, the voices of First Peoples cannot be dismissed. Maybe youre going to end up in a heated argument at a BBQ this weekend (dont blame you), or perhaps youve only just started to explore your own feelings on the topic (dont blame you either). A protest that has never dissipated in the decades that followed. On Australia Day we celebrate all the things we love about Australia: land, sense of fair go, lifestyle, democracy, the freedoms we enjoy but particularly our people. Check out our tips for writing to your MP here. These are just a few of many reasons of why we should change the date of Australia day. This move was criticised, with the Resources Minister at the time, Matt Canavan, calling it a disgraceful decision. And they are wrong for seven reasons. Australia has a long way to go Kamilaroi dancer Russell Dawson's cultural education and performance company Koomurri Entertainment has seen a rise in bookings on Australia Day. Welcome to Dig Deeper, a content series allowing you to dive as deep as you like into topics that are underserved in the current media landscape but need and deserve more coverage and attention. Cancelling the commemoration completely would move the conversation around racism forward in this country, while also highlighting the needs of First Nations peoples. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance and future returns are not guaranteed. (Getty) Forty-one per cent of those surveyed believed changing the date of Australia Day would be important in improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Before you arc up, no one is suggesting we dont celebrate this beautiful country we live in. if (typeof window.onload != 'function'){ Several local councils around the country have stopped celebrating Australia Day on January 26 against the wishes of the Federal Government. 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 no, its not being unpatriotic. Hi everyone. We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. This website provides you with general information only and does not take account of your individual investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Changing the date is accountability, its saying that we f**ked up, real bad. It is a time when we are seeing rights and freedoms for all except the wealthiest Australians (and foreign companies) removed. For white Australians, changing the date will simply mean coming together on a different day and the public holiday would still take place. } The colonisation of Australia was done through force, displacing Indigenous communities from their ancestral homelands. There are many things we want to celebrate about Australia, but 26 January doesn't represent an inclusive day for everyone. And, now the insensitivity is well known, its selfish not to change the date again. oldonload(); Now, there are two lines of thinking when it comes to this date. As the majority of the Australian population is non-Indigenous, it speaks to the beginning of this part of Australias history. The Hottest 100 wasnt created as an Australia Day celebration.. I choose not to repeat myself, because the date will change. Read more stories fromThe Latchand follow us onFacebook. [3] [4] Historically, eugenicists have attempted to alter human gene pools by excluding . Australia Day should be a day that reflects what our ideals are and how we imagine our country. Secondly, changing the date would spare indigenous Australian and islanders the painful reminder of their loss of country, family and culture. Warning: This article deals with the topic of targeted violence against certain groups and may be triggering for some readers. 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