should australia day be changed pros and cons
Watch: What January 26 means to different Australians. The downsides of going cashless include less privacy, greater exposure to hacking, technological dependency . One study found that the risk of a heart attack increases 10% the Monday and Tuesday following the spring time change. But does she really think for one minute that this would be the nation it is today had it not been for the arrival of the First Fleet and the subsequent development of this land as a great democracy in the British tradition? People may get frustrated. But whats indisputable is the historical origin of the date. The kids are being taken away not only from their family but their identity and knowing where they come from, says Mr Dawe. Their strategy is to engineer and profit from hostility between Muslims and non-Muslims and between different sects of Islam. They brought the worst elements of an empire from tyranny to syphilis with no thoughts of creating a shining, democratic outpost. Tom Calma, co-chair of the advocacy group Reconciliation Australia, said there needed to be more education for people to understand why the date should be changed. People take part in an "Invasion Day" rally on Australia Day in Melbourne on January 26, 2018. Statue becomes lightning rod for Australian nationalists. It has rainforests, deserts, mountains, and beaches, among other sceneries. Young bright and full of hope is what we all. Acknowledgement of the significance of the issues, and corresponding changes are required to reflect Australia's multicultural society, as well as to . But changing the date of Australia Day is something we can do now. If offended, there are a range of peaceful options, such as: a letter of complaint to the editor; never purchasing the publication again; a public demonstration in a nearby park; a boycott of companies advertising in the publication. 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Those opposed to Australia Day, mainly for the date on which is celebrated, do so because of the historical significance the British invasion and the destruction it brought. The 28-year-old is the CEO and founder of Aboriginal-led mentoring program ID Know Yourself. (Through awareness and truth telling) about this day, believe we will all be able to find reconciliation here in Australia. The issue of modifying school calendars causes tremendous division between those who feel that the traditional school calendar allows children to enjoy a long summer break and those who feel a more balanced, year-round schedule would allow for more restful breaks throughout the year. That was not the . Copyright 20102023, The Conversation US, Inc. But I can't separate the 26th of January from the fact that my brothers are more likely to go to jail than they are to go to school" says @BoneyBrooke, a proud Gamilaroi woman. Services Australia can pay these 28 days over . The not-for-profit supports Indigenous children who are placed into out-of-home care, an experience that is very personal for Mr Dawe, who himself entered care at just two months old. During this time, many Indigenous people were removed from their traditional lands, and stopped from practicing their language and culture., Another problem with holding our national day on January 26 is that it is a day that positions European settlement as the primary source of national identity and pride. However, she also acknowledges that change is incremental. SHOULD THE AUSTRALIAN FLAG BE CHANGED? We must not any longer shut our eyes to the consequences of our being on earth. This is not the same as Australia. Australia has the 12th highest cost of living in the world, with the US and the UK well behind it at 21st and 23rd, respectively. Attention Deficit and Fatigue. A poll commissioned by progressive think tank Australia Institute found 56% didnt care when the national day was held, while a separate poll from conservative group the Institute of Public Affairs resulted in 70% support for keeping Australia Day on January 26. This was in spite of the fact that its estimated more than 500 First Nations groups had already inhabited the continent, with the total believed to be about 750,000 people. I was so sorry to read of Mark Juddery's death (CT. Jan. 13). Surely Westfield Retail could display some moral fibre by granting shop owners rent relief from the colossal sums it saves from avoiding Australian tax, as identified by the international Tax Justice Network and Uniting Church research (12 January)? History of Daylight Savings Time (DST). Read the full article on The Conversation. These days the places are overrun with TV sets, stereos, fridges and all sorts of other noise-making devices. Am I the only one who believes our politicians now see, us the electorate, as the enemy? Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Weve changed the date before in fact, January 26 has only been a national public holiday since 1994 and must do so again if we want to achieve a national day that unifies all Australians. There is a lively debate about the pros and cons of Australia Day. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. We can celebrate the achievements of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters, and the successes achieved together. I respect peoples right to mourn and even to claim that Australia Day celebrations are causing them grief, insult, and suffering. However, if previous years are anything to go by, that day, whether you call it Australia Day, Survival Day, Invasion Day, or whatever, is likely to be the source of some debate. This is part of a series examining Australian national identity, especially around the ongoing debate about Australia Day. Updated To make a satirical omelette you have to bruise some feelings. From this day, on 1788 onwards our people have suffered massacres, land theft, stolen children and oppression (which) colonisation forced upon us, Mr Dawe explains. A proud member of the Wiradjuri nation, she says that Australia is still coming to terms with its past. 2. The very fact that Benjamin Netanyahu (Prime Minister of Israel) and Mahmoud Abbas (President of the Palestinian Authority) marched in the same parade is a tribute, in itself, to the French concepts of brotherhood, liberty and equality. As the children of the digital age grow up, and take public office, run corporations and make decisions for our country, maybe the pendulum of this debate will start to swing. Premium subscribers also enjoy interactive puzzles and access to the digital version of our print edition - Today's Paper. It is unfortunate that the defence of January 26 has included claims that the British arrival guaranteed the creation of a modern nation, and thus must be honoured. And that is where the wandering should end. Many Australians refer to January 26 as "Invasion Day." The controversy has led to a growing push to change the date of the country's national celebration to another day without the. More from Letters to the Editor Barnaby is both out of touch and running out of time A cultural debate intensified this week when prominent indigenous commentator Stan Grant dubbed the inscription "Discovered this territory 1770", on a Sydney statue of 18th century British explorer Capitan James Cook, a "damaging myth". The prime, simple reason for Australia Day staying put is that most Australians want it that way so they can salute their nation. Before we can settle on a way forward, there is more work to be done in terms of raising awareness of the fraught symbolism of January 26, and what Australia stands to gain by changing the date of our national day to one that represents the shared values of modern Australia. Two prominent Australians weigh in on the debate. Today, Indigenous peoples are still recovering from the chain of events that were set in motion on that day in 1788. Now she believes she's being penalised, Australia looks to press home its advantage with the bat on day two against India, ADF aircraft, personnel to assist evacuation of hundreds from flooded NT remote communities, Toyah Cordingley's accused killer touches down in Cairns to face murder charges, 'Weight of the dead on my shoulders': Academic breaks down at gay hate deaths inquiry, Outside her tent, next to a popular city walking track, homeless Tasha is past caring what people think. Nurses and midwives in NSW have been warned against posting on subscription site OnlyFans by the industrys professional complaints body. The Prime Minister is showing admirable leadership in his care for the words he uses when referring to the terrorists. Increase in informal votes. Almost 100 suburbs and each with a soul! Mamamia only refers to January 26 by its date, to acknowledge that it is not a day of celebration for all Australians. Pros and Cons of Living in Australia vs. UK. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. Australia is no longer a country that acts as part of the British Empire. Now its time to take a good hard look at ourselves, and make some tough decisions. Look at a bus stop near a school, office, cafe or shopping centre and you will see what I mean. Its very hard for Aboriginal people to celebrate a day that represents the beginning of the end, she says. If you have more than $5,000 worth of debt in Australia and your creditors are unable to make payments, then they can force you into bankruptcy. It feels like a moment to pause and acknowledge what we have. Lisa Wilkinsons defence in her defamation case states she is not a lawyer and understood Tens colleagues had fact-checked Brittany Higgins allegations. Consider the celebration of Christmas Day. As the first Aboriginal person to be elected to the NSW parliament and the first Aboriginal woman to serve in the Australian House of Representatives, Ms Burney says she sees the importance of having a national day, however it needs to be one all people can truly celebrate. Though traditionally it had religious significance (and still does for some), for many people there is no religious meaning. I dont want Australia Day undermined in the future and just see it sort of fade away, Morrison said. Which way do the clocks go? Stick with a simple "Hello/Hi" and "How are you?" There are not many topics that are taboo or off limits in Australia. But by having that celebration on January 26, we're tying it to British settlement and positioning that invasion (in Reconciliation Australia's words) as "the primary source of Australian identity and pride.". January 26 is Australia Day - our Australia Day. When I was a kid, camping holidays were the highlight of our year. However, at latitudes between these extremes, adjusting daily routines to the shifting day length during summer may indeed help to save energy. The equivalent for Australia is July 9, 1900. So, when we spring forward an hour in spring, we add one hour of natural daylight to our afternoon schedule. JANUARY 26 should continue to be kept as our national day but not because those First Fleet ships landed essential cultural cargo. Changing the time, even if it is only by one hour, disrupts our body clocks or circadian rhythm. Don't have an account? Christianity's history of brutality, conducted in the name of a man of peace, is longer than and as nasty as Islam's but this is never mentioned. For us, thats a real true sign of reconciliation.. As a self-proclaimed realist, federal opposition spokeswoman for Human Services Linda Burney, doesnt believe Australia Day will be changed from January 26. Sure, not everythings perfect in contemporary Australia; and its possible that Aboriginal life could have continued for some time without modernity bursting upon it, had governor Arthur Phillip not raised the Union flag and toasted the king on January 26, 1788, but its hard to imagine a better Australia in the absence of the Western civilization that began here from that date. It has always been thus. It is a day for national unity, and it is too easy to come up with reasons for division. Calma believes the movement to change the date Is gaining momentum, adding: We see the big marches and the protests, and participating in events around Australia. I am firmly of the view that if the decision was being made today, the 26th of January would not be the date chosen, because I think Australia is moving progressively to want to know the full story of this country, she says. Australia Day is one of the few times of the year where we are forced to reflect on our nation's identity, and that's a tough conversation for a former penal colony with a bloody history. Cons of living in Australia. A five-day week entitles 28 days' annual leave a year. In doing so, he hopes to instil strength, hope, love, family and culture back into their lives and break the cycle. "Sometimes it's just about surviving Survival Day," said a friend who is feeling exhausted three weeks into January. Even worse: it is the source of many further problems. The conscription debate. In this article the truth is January 26 should be first fleet day, not Australia day by Smith in the. Longer school days could result in attention deficit and fatigue, making the extra class time ineffective. Are there bigger issues than changing the date? By Amy Pearson. People walk past a statue of Captain James Cook stands in Sydney's Hyde Park on August 25, 2017, as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull labelled calls to change colonial-era monuments and the date of Australia Day, in attempts to better reflect the country's indigenous past, as a 'Stalinist' excercise in re-writing history. In the 18th century, this no doubt upset Christians; and maybe it even made them think critically, about war, faith, prayer. There too, the debate has been playing out for decades, with the social dial slowly shifting. But conservative politicians refused to be deterred, even raising the possibility of passing legislation to set the date as January 26 to hamper any future attempts to change it. If you want to hold Australia Day ceremonies and be given that privilege, well, Australia Day is the day, Morrison said. The guidelines of this competition included that the Union Jack and Southern Cross should appear on the flag. Why some Australians want to move their controversial national day. So, the employee would work around 28 hours over four days and have a three-day weekend. On Sunday 3 September 1939, Prime Minister Robert Menzies declared to the nation that Australia was at war with Germany. Today, the amount of energy saved from DST is negligible. Send to their inbox. "Boost in patrons for Canberra's Nightrider bus service over Christmas", says The Canberra Times (January 11). Other suggestions by Morrison to safeguard January 26 as Australia Day include enforcing dress codes at citizenship ceremonies an idea which was widely criticized. The truth-telling all Australians need to hear. David Denham's measured tones (CT 14 February) bring in to sharp focus the consistent inconsistency of this ACT government. This is a day most Aussies look forward to: a day off work with friends and family, food, fun, and laughter. Warning: This article contains images of Indigenous people who have died. Aboriginal academic Chelsea Bond writes: I march in remembrance for those who lost their lives simply defending their own land and people. In doing so, it ignores more than 60,000 years of pre-colonial history and 230 years of multicultural migration to Australia.. Australia Day can be a day of remembrance and reflection, as well as celebrations. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. We need our non-Indigenous people to walk with us on this journey of healing and empowerment for our kids. If January 26 is abandoned, selection of an alternative day could be overwhelmed by history games: you provide a date and someone will provide the negating atrocity. Whereas all the other cities in Australia are extending and thriving on their night-time public transport services, you are economising. Interests of the majority are represented. Post continues below. The commemoration of this day has grown contentious in recent years as a result of a "change the date" campaign, in which supporters demand that Australia Day be moved from January 26 to May 9. As of Feb. 2023, the average personal loan rate was 10.6 percent, while the average credit card rate was 19.91 percent . Cons: our federal politicians are often very annoying and lack courage with policy. "Half (49 per cent) agreed that Australia Day should not be on a day that is offensive to Indigenous Australians, while 36% disagreed. It was nice to read Jack Waterford's more balanced and humanist appraisal (Times2, January 14) of the issues that surround the Charlie Hebdo incident. January 26 is fast approaching. A man thought he was in trouble with the RSPCA, but an animal cruelty report turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. Inc. Australia; Private Media; wpDiscuz. Of course, no place is perfect. All Rights Reserved. log in. The pros and cons of the proposed change One of the more common arguments amongst those who are against raising the legal drinking age is that minors will always find a way to drink, and making it illegal for those under the age of 21 to drink at venues means they will simply drink elsewhere, and may not be as safe in the process. Not everyone sees it as a reason to celebrate. Boney received a wave of negative comments on social media after her speech, but also a large number of articles and commentary in support of her position. . 2. Polls suggest a majority of Australians agree a 2017 survey found 54% of Australians supported keeping the date on January 26, while just 26% wanted it moved. In calling for a change to the date of Australia Day (yes, it's that time of the year again) Ester Gaia (CT, January 13) uses the emotive "British invasion and occupation" language to try to reduce the significance of the date. Write an article and join a growing community of more than 160,400 academics and researchers from 4,572 institutions. 1. However, that is not a reason to abandon January 26. When the bus comes, they don't take the rubbish with them. If we 'move forward' without acknowledging that legacy, we'd only continue to leave some people behind. We should acknowledge this and celebrate what a great country Australia is - and work together to make it even better. I believe she is wrong, because, quite simply, no other date better reflects both the origins of the country and the nation it has become. "This is the best country in the world no doubt. Australia Day: Why we need to change the date There are many things we want to celebrate about Australia, but 26 January doesn't represent an inclusive day for everyone. 54% of Australians supported keeping the date, more than 100,000 people marching across the country to protest Invasion Day, have already tried moving the celebration. But the movement to change the date has become increasingly mainstream, with more than 100,000 people marching across the country to protest Invasion Day in 2018. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/opinions-on-australia-day-split-on-generational-lines/13081322, Get breaking news alerts directly to your phone with our app, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Former minister takes 'absolute responsibility' for Robodebt, admits defending scheme despite knowing it could be unlawful, 'Sickening, callous and brazen': Sydney man dies in hail of bullets in front of 12yo son, Evelyn worked three jobs when she was in her 20s to build up her super. The dispossession of Australia's First Peoples began on this date in 1788 representing a day of mourning rather than celebration. 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should australia day be changed pros and cons