Australia Day, January 26th. Do we need to reconsider?

802 Words2 Pages

Australia Day is annually celebrated on the 26th of January; the date recognises the initiation of British sovereignty over Australia in 1788. The nation’s achievements since then are nothing short of outstanding. As regarded as a considerably young nation, we have realized extraordinary growth, expansion, development, stature and respect across the globe; and deemed our greatest achievement, our multiculturalism. Yet despite these momentous attributes and reason to celebrate, we choose to commemorate it on a day that for the vast majority of the population has no real significance whatsoever. Worse yet, for the indigenous population the day only serves to remind them, of their subjugation, their overthrow and their suppression. Moreover, is it time to introduce reforms to our nation’s day?

The majority of the Australian population is aware of Indigenous Australians’ attitudes towards the nation’s day; despite this, little is addressed of the discussion. Former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd argued there have always been controversies about national days, but that Australia is a nation for all Australians.
‘A nation which has apologised for the mistakes of the past, and there have been many. But a nation now resolved to close the gap in education, in health, and employment, and those things which matter in people daily and practical lives.’ – Kevin Rudd (Invasion day protests amid Australia Day debate, 2009)
This view arouses an interesting point; Australia is a great country to live in with much to offer both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. To focus on changing the date of Australia Day is a smokescreen to the real problems that many Indigenous Australians face; that of health, education, employment and etc. These are ...

... middle of paper ...

...il 2014, .
Holloway, A 2014 Australia Day or Invasion Day?, Ancient Origins, accessed 15 April 2014, .
‘'Invasion day' protests amid Australia Day debate’ 2009, ABC, 26 January, accessed 15 April 2014, .
Kelly, J 2014, ‘Australia Day: Can we talk about this?’, The Australian Independent Media Network, 17 January, accessed 15 April 2014, .
Peatling, S 2009, ‘Australia Day sparks brawl’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 26 January, accessed 15 April 2014, .

Show More
Related

  • Cronulla Riots: Film Analysis

    996 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 2014 Walkley Award winning documentary, "Cronulla Riots: the day that shocked the nation" reveals to us a whole new side of Aussie culture. No more she’ll be right, no more fair go and sadly no more fair dinkum. The doco proved to all of us (or is it just me?) that the Australian identity isn’t really what we believe it to be. After viewing this documentary

    Read More

  • Analysis of The Redfern Address

    1832 Words  | 4 Pages

    Summary of Text: ‘The Redfern Address’ is a speech that was given to a crowd made up of mainly indigenous Australians at the official opening of the United Nations International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in Redfern Park, New South Wales. This text deals with many of the challenges that have been faced by Indigenous Australians over time, while prompting the audience to ask themselves, ‘How would I feel?’ Throughout the text, Keating challenges the views of history over time, outlines some of the outrageous crimes committed against the Indigenous community, and praises the indigenous people on their contribution to our nation, despite the way they have been treated.

    Read More

  • Nova Peris Case Study

    1092 Words  | 3 Pages

    The contributions and achievements of Indigenous role models continue to make substantial impacts upon our history in areas such as the arts, sport, education, science and more increasingly; the world of Politics. Modern Australia is recognising and celebrating the achievements of Aboriginal people more than ever before, where the social landscape is changing (albeit slowly) as a result. The gradual change of peoples ingrained preconceptions, unfounded ideas and prejudiced notions are being challenged and ultimately transformed.

    Read More

  • Should We Change Australia Day Essay

    1053 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is well known that Captain Arthur Philips landed in Australia on 26th of January and took over the land and is referred to as “invasion Day”. Yet little do people know, Captain Arthur Phillip didn’t land in Australia on 26 January. He first landed in Australia between the 18th and 20th of January 1788 in Botany Bay, however where he landed he couldn’t find fresh water so he then sailed into Sydney Cove on the 26th where he found a Tank Stream…..problem solved. Australia day today celebrates our diverse society, our remarkable achievements, our future as a nation and how we can make Australia a better

    Read More

  • Constitutional Change In The Australian Constitution

    1733 Words  | 4 Pages

    Of the 8 successful, the 1967 referendum which proposed the removal of the words in section 51 (xxvi) ‘… other than the aboriginal people in any State’ (National Archives of Australia ND), and the deletion of section 127, both, which were discriminative in their nature toward the Aboriginal race, recorded a 90.77% nationwide vote in favour of change (National Archives of Australia, 2014). As a result, the Constitution was altered; highlighting what was believed to be significant positive political change within Indigenous affairs at the time (National Archives of Australia, 2014). Approaching 50 years on, discussion has resurfa...

    Read More

  • Australia Day Should Be Abolished Persuasive Essay

    1567 Words  | 4 Pages

    However, what the Turnball supporters fail to recognise is that the days motives cannot be effectively celebrated by our first inhabitants on a date that coincides with pure heart ache. Hence, we need a day that still embodies these motives, however falls on a date that is also connected to this sense of unity we all desire. The first suggestion is a date that has recently appeared in the news, wattle day. The golden wattle is a symbol that has welcomed all of us over its 30 million year history, and also carries the colours that we have effectively branded as our own…the green and gold. Hence, wattle day can effectively celebrate our land, our people and of course our nation, therefore solving the conflict and sadness that surrounds our current date. Another alternative could be federation day, the day that our 6 British self-governing colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia. Maybe even the day that the White Australia Policy was created….a day that abolished all forms of racism in our country and also embraced diversity. Finally, the day that the Australia Act was formed, a day that terminated the British control of Australian legislature. It is true, as some argue, alternative dates will have their faults and draw criticism, however that is no reason not to consider new dates. Whatever criticism there is of the alternatives they will not attract the criticism of being based on race. The difference between these days and our current date is not in the values they celebrate, but rather the context of the values. The 26th of January is a date that coincides with the beginning of Aboriginal mistreatment, an embarrassing day for us as a nation. These supposed dates all celebrate events that have a positive connotation with our country and all of our

    Read More

  • Gallipoli: The defining moment in Australian National Identity

    907 Words  | 2 Pages

    Australia is a relatively young country; only becoming a unified nation in 1901 (Commonwealth of Australia, 2012). A young country is no different from a young person; identity is an issue. Questions of who am I and where do I fit in the world are asked, and unfortunately not often answered until a tragedy occurs. National identity is a sense of a nation and its people as a connected whole. This feeling of cohesiveness can be shaped by many events in a nation’s history but none more so than war. War is a stressful, traumatic affair that changes forever, not only the people that go to it but the nation as a whole. Many consider the Great War Australia’s tragedy where we became a nation (Bollard, 2013) with our own modern identity.

    Read More

  • Injustice In Australia Essay

    759 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...at these several events in our nation’s history have demoralised our reputation to other countries globally. To make us known as a better country to other nations, we’ve completely abolished the White Australia Policy, gave back the aborigines their freedoms and we were also the first country in the world to give women rights. Australia today in present day is now one of the most multicultural societies on Earth, and we definitely follow our values of mateship, acceptance and freedom.

    Read More

  • Australian Veterans of the Vietnam War

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    House of Representatives. (1965, April 29). Retrieved March 16, 2014, from Commonwealth Parliamentary Debates: http://www.dva.gov.au/commems_oawg/commemorations/education/Documents/avw_topic1.pdf

    Read More

  • History Wars: Recognition of Indigenous Australians

    1851 Words  | 4 Pages

    Rudd, K. (2008, February 13). Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, MP – Apology to Australia’s Indigenous peoples [Parliament of Australia, House of Representatives]. [Transcript]. Canberra, ACT: Retrieved from http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/our-country/our-people/apology-to-australias-indigenous-peoples

    Read More

  • Reconciliation Action Plan

    1257 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...rial covered in the unit Aboriginal People that I have been studying at the University of Notre Dame Fremantle, Aboriginal people have had a long history of being subjected to dispossession and discriminatory acts that has been keep quite for too long. By standing together we are far more likely to achieve long lasting positive outcomes and a better future for all Australians.

    Read More

  • Aboriginal Rights And Freedoms

    1638 Words  | 4 Pages

    The rights and freedoms achieved in Australia in the 20th and 21st century can be described as discriminating, dehumanising and unfair against the Indigenous Australians. Indigenous Australians have achieved rights and freedoms in their country since the invasion of the English Monarch in 1788 through the exploration and development of laws, referendums and processes. Firstly, this essay will discuss the effects of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the Indigenous Australians through dehumanising and discriminating against them. Secondly, this essay will discuss how Indigenous Australians gained citizenship and voting

    Read More

  • The Assimilation Policy and Its Impact on the Indigenous Australian Society

    1077 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human History. We reflect on their past mistreatment. We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations—this blemished chapter in our nation’s history. The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future. We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians” (apology by Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, 16th November 2009, Parliament House, Canberra.)

    Read More

  • What It Means To Be Australian

    355 Words  | 1 Pages

    But familiar landmarks and also the unfamiliar ones aren't the whole make-up of Australia's heritage. It's the people that make a difference. Australia is made up of people from all walks of life who have migrated here for different reasons. Among these, the most common migrants are from Greece, Italy, Russia and Asia. Australia is made up of material culture: the places and objects, but also Living culture: In forms such as Music, Crafts, Literature etc. It is an interplay between international cultures and beliefs, the claims of nationalism and ethnic and religious traditions, as well as the local and community priorities that’s make up the unique Australian heritage.

    Read More

  • The Stolen Generation: The Effects Of Removal Today

    1037 Words  | 3 Pages

    2000: Over 250,000 people participate in the Corroboree 2000 “Sorry" Walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge on 28 May. Similar walks are held in the other State and Territory

    Read More

More about Australia Day, January 26th. Do we need to reconsider?

Open Document