The Tides Are Turning Back on Australia Day

Only twelve short years ago, 2012, generally speaking, Australia Day was seen as a good thing. The national broadcaster, the ABC, proclaimed, “A day for celebration, not a day to dwell”. Also, “We are all Australian”. One could argue that the ABC was trying to bring us all together. Those were the good old days! But a couple of years later in 2014, there were public rumblings of discontent with the national holiday. The Guardian, “Australia Day is a time for mourning, not celebration”. The Conversation, “Australia Day nationalism walks in the footsteps of ugly precedents. Australia Day has always been problematic as a national day of celebration.” That’s funny, a couple of years prior it was perfectly fine!

As the years ticked by, the attacks intensified. The public broadcaster started to give in to minority opinion. In August, “We should celebrate Australia Day, just not on January 26”, and then in November, “ABC’s Triple J moves Hottest 100 from Australia Day after protests”. In the previous year, they found that 85% of Australians supported Australia Day, and then suddenly they’re caving in to minority opinion. A bit strange for a broadcaster funded by all Australians.

Well, that opened the floodgates! The ABC showed that protesting Australia Day yielded results. In 2018, “Indigenous community condemns Australia Day play”, “It’s about genocide, not achievements”, and, “We will not accept Australia Day on 26 January without resistance”. That sounds like a threat from The Guardian. In 2019, “Sydney’s Inner West Council scraps Australia Day”. In 2020, “Outrage as Melbourne cans Australia Day parade”, apparently due to an airborne virus.

In 2021, despite Australia Day parades being banned, apparently, “Invasion Day rally sees thousands take to Melbourne streets, two men detained by police”, both of which were “counter-protesters”.

This reminds me of that old Clive James quote, “The problem with Australians is not that so many of them are descended from convicts, but that so many are descended from prison officers.” Yes, we were a nation sentenced to house arrest, unless you had the right views. But also in 2021, the ABC decided to help you regarding Australia Day: “How to talk about not celebrating Australia Day”. Yes, the ABC compiled a guide to help you deal with those pesky people who insist on celebrating the national holiday.

In 2022, it became political, “Labor scraps rule that forced local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day”, you know, for “operational” reasons, whatever that means.

2023 was the year that we saw universities roll out “respectful work arrangements”, where essentially, people who hate Australia Day can choose to work instead of taking the day as a public holiday. It’s complete BS, but the entire university sector bought into it as I personally discovered as a university employee. Those that chose to take the public holiday were seen as bigots. Of course, Victoria quietly axed its Australia Day parade. Perth cancelled their massive Australia Day Skyworks display after almost 40 years due to “waning interest”. Apparently people don’t like fireworks anymore. Australia’s High Commissioner to the UK Stephen Smith cancelled the annual London Australia Day event over ‘sensitivities’, and, 80 local councils took Albo up on his offer and cancel Australia Day citizenship ceremonies. On the night of his election he said, “I want to promote unity and optimism, not fear and division.” There has been nothing but division since he has taken office.

But as 2024 draws to an end, it’s not all bad news for Australia Day. In September, “City of Unley council votes to reverse decision to hold Australia Day ceremonies on January 25 after community survey”, “Rockingham councillors vote to move Australia Day celebrations back to January 26”, and earlier this month, “Victorian councils backflip on decision to celebrate Australia Day”, with multiple councils realising that the majority of Australians don’t agree with the cancellation of Australia Day.

Even Albo’s Government can see the writing on the wall with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet “Supporting more than 750 inclusive events across the nation to mark Australia Day 2025”. Of course, they had to use the word “inclusive”, but can anybody tell me which Australia Day events are not inclusive? Every one I’ve been to has been open to everybody. Nobody cares where you’re from, or what you believe in. As long as you’re there to celebrate Australia, you are welcome. But is it too late for the Albanese Government to make amends for the terrible division they’ve wreaked upon us? Either way, the silent majority are sick of being told by the minority what they can and can’t celebrate.

Anyway, Happy New Year, Happy Australia Day for January, and whatever you do, don’t let the naysayers keep you down.
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