Changing the day won't achieve much. What's the end game here? No matter what date it is, we still have people whinging.

Also with a recent IPSOS poll declaring 28% want to change the date, where is the demand? 

Australia Day is meant to be celebrating unity and how far as a nation we've grown together. We can't change our past which is condemned, but we can't rewrite it either. 

I agree Glenn,

Sorry Day, or Invasion Day is another kick in the guts to a civilization that we or our forebears tried to extinguish and it is long past time to, not just with the date, put this to rights

Having a meaningful day to celebrate our democracy is another fine notion.

Bring them on.

Hello, 09

I agree that ‘’changing the day’’ is likely to achieve little in terms of the complexity of the issues involved.

There appears to be little consensus over what Australia Day itself stands for. This is likely to continue while we lack a unifying vision of the type of nation we wish to be. This is an issue I have posted about on IdeaSpies before, and believe it needs to be addressed and resolved in a community-wide conversation.

In the near term, I have suggested a “change of celebration” for the January 26^th date, rather than a change of date. A Heritage Day would allow us to recognise the richness of the different cultural backgrounds that make up our nation – and the painful historic journeys of many - be they indigenous peoples, holocaust survivors or part of our many refugee communities.

I also believe that we should celebrate our Federation, which has gifted us the privilege of living in one of the world’s best participative democracies. One that we have the power to make even better! As New Year’s Day is the anniversary of the creation of the Federation, I have suggested the anniversary of the first sitting of parliament, May 9^th as a suitable and unfettered day for the celebration.

Given the unique nature of the evolution of the Australian nation, it is hard ever to imagine we will celebrate our history in the same way as citizens of the USA do.

Australians of today lack a clear and agreed definition of what we commonly value as a community. We focus on the divisive and tend to ignore the binding issues.

Two suggestions that could help us focus more on the positive and binding issues are: 1. Establish a Heritage Day and 2. Determine what we commonly value and stand e.g.

An alternative - thats easy - & it’s already a National Day. Wattle Day - 1 September each year.

https://www.pmc.gov.au/news/wattle-day https://wattleday.asn.au/today-why-do-we-celebrate/

The perfect time to celebrate our nation & national flower. It is why we play sports in green and gold / it is our identity. Let’s make This the public holiday  & make it a day of volunteer service / renewal / BBQ’s & fun.

As for Australia Day - keep it as a National Day. Change it’s formal name to Australian Reflection Day.  Make it a day to think about our past and how as a Nation we can become better in the future!

An interesting article supporting maintaining the day and the date.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-m-an-aboriginal-doctor-don-t-change-australia-day-on-my-behalf-20240124-p5ezrm.html

Just read this interesting article supporting more promo of Wattle Day which I had never heard of till mentioned here.

Jonathan it would be good if you post an idea saying we should do more to celebrate Wattle Day since, as you say, it's an ideal way and time to celebrate the Australian way of life. I don't believe there is enough momentum to change Australia Day yet.

https://johnmenadue.com/australia-day-2024-poses-more-than-the-usual-challenges/