As a self-proclaimed realist, federal opposition spokeswoman for Human Services Linda Burney, doesnt believe Australia Day will be changed from January 26. All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us? asks the John Cleese character in the classic filmLife of Brian. Catch up on other pieces in the series here. Terrorists and the like, mainly gullible young men, feel free to behave badly with guns and bombs because they're sucked in by the teachings of the two major religions, Islam and Christianity. 3. That's how most Australian's, celebrate the day, if they celebrate it at al Continue Reading Matt Jennings Former Youth Basketball Coach Updated 6 mo Promoted 6 important facts every Australian should know about January 26. We should acknowledge this and celebrate what a great country Australia is and work together to make it even better. Australia's Constitution as it stands protects only a limited number of rights. Australia no longer aligns itself with the thinking of the. It's a strange, brutal and relatively recent quirk of Australia's colonial history that January 26, a day that marks an invasion rather than independence, has even become our national day. It would make more sense to celebrate it on the 9th of November-Delta Goodrem's birthday. Then, by all means crack down on rorts related to social security but to be fair let's also crack down on rorts enjoyed by high-income earners superannuation, negative gearing and trusts all come to mind. I choose not to repeat myself, because the date will change. Australias flag has changed many times. To others, it can never be detached from the past, from an event that started systematic oppression of an ancient culture. People take part in an "Invasion Day" rally on Australia Day in Melbourne, August 26, 2018. Previously it moved around the final week of that month to give people a long weekend. Every year Australia Day, held on January 26, is the focus of huge controversy and debate. It feels, as Woolwonga/Gurindji woman Susan Moylan-Coombs says, "like pressing on a bruise". As you can see, there are a lot of pros and cons to the 4-day school week, but in terms of its long-term effect on academic outcomes, the jury is still out. Few former British colonies celebrate their national day on the actual day of colonization. The kids are being taken away not only from their family but their identity and knowing where they come from, says Mr Dawe. As Australians deal with a record-breaking heatwave, environmental devastation and a sixth prime minister in just over a decade, the annual fierce debate over the countrys national day might be the thing that pushes many of them over the edge. Australia should not be committed to any other region of the world. More than half (53%) of millennials (those born between 1986 and 2002) think we should not celebrate Australia Day on January 26. [ 1] [ 2] On Sunday 3 September 1939, Prime Minister Robert Menzies declared to the nation that Australia was at war with Germany. To argue that Australia Day should be on January 26 because of a richly embraced tradition is a hard sell, too. Celebrating on a particular day does not have to be tied to historical events, even if its origins are rooted in those events. THERES no doubt the First Fleet brought the worst elements of the British Empire to Australia. Students attend school for 45 days, or about nine weeks, then take off for three weeks, or 15 school days. For starters, if public servants are to be restricted to around 1.5per cent salary increases, is it fair to assume that the Remuneration Tribunal will follow suit with salaries of our political masters and not fiddle with allowances to muddy the waters? Suppose you are to travel outside the country for more than 28 days within a year. Every year in Australia, once the New Year festivities are behind us, the same debate mounts in the press, on social media, and around dinner tables. 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". There is a lively debate about the pros and cons of Australia Day. But when you look at how young people are responding, there's a clear generational divide. Not in a hyper-nationalistic way but as an occasion for family and suburban-based celebration. (Through awareness and truth telling) about this day, believe we will all be able to find reconciliation here in Australia. As Australia is the only western democracy without such a document, in order to re-establish its standing as a country which respects and defends the rights and . It feels like a moment to pause and acknowledge what we have. Register, Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout. I agree with Aboriginal elder Robert Isaacs: It [Australia Day] brings the community together, it brings the Australian people together and it celebrates the good this country has provided for everyone. 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. Today many Australians celebrate Christmas for other reasons: family; end of another hard year; food and drink; and summer holidays. Our program is addressing the disproportionate rates of aboriginal kids being removed from their parents, families and culture.. Mitigation of election restrictions. It was only in 1994 that January 26 became a national public holiday to be named Australia Day. A cornerstone of that is an acknowledgment of the trauma that began and has lingered since 1788. Australia Day Today. Far from playing into the hands of the terrorists by irresponsibly encouraging fear of Islam, the media and other commentators should follow Tony Abbott's example in this. This makes less sense close to the equator, where the amount of daylight does not vary much in a year, or near the poles, where the difference between winter and summer daylight hours is very large. And as we confront our history, re-write our curriculums, maybe the side of history we chose to honour on our national day changes too. David Denham's measured tones (CT 14 February) bring in to sharp focus the consistent inconsistency of this ACT government. Some disadvantages, however, can include scheduling challenges, reduced producivity, and added stress. It is hard to determine the economic cost of the collective tiredness caused by DST, but studies have found a decrease in productivity after the spring transition. Then, we'll take a look at some change management cons, including: The cost of failure. The cost of living is high. 70% support for keeping Australia Day on January 26. So while we're inevitably going to be caught in this change the date, abolish the date, or keep the date debate for a number of years yet, maybe the American record shows us where we are headed and it'll be the younger generations taking us there. 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. I hope you are ashamed to have been part of such a regressive and pointless gesture. We need our non-Indigenous people to walk with us on this journey of healing and empowerment for our kids. Given a significant number of people see only a day off rather than a national day, the figures are significant. Australians can find their human rights that are protected in the Constitution, in common law, anti-discrimination laws and other State and Federal legislation. There are differing interpretations of what it means to celebrate on January 26. While many Australians see it as a chance to celebrate the countrys lifestyle, culture and achievements, typically through barbeques and public events, the date is not a happy one for Australias Indigenous people. Drawbacks of Organizational Change. The equivalent for Australia is July 9, 1900. Today, Indigenous peoples are still recovering from the chain of events that were set in motion on that day in 1788. Benefits of Change Management. For those objecting to Australia Day celebrations, I encourage you to consider the aforementioned problems and ask yourself: How will changing the name or the date help those who are suffering most?. More sleep: Teens may be more likely to get the recommended amount of sleep. It might just be a commercial Australian Lambs annual advertisement ahead of Australia Day on January 26 but its struck a nerve with a lot of Australians this year. Now in these more enlightened times, post Mabo and Bringing the Children Home, consideration should be given to the day on which we celebrate our nation, so that all Australians can wholeheartedly rejoice while doing so. Many countries are moving towards a cashless society, in which all financial transactions are electronic. Then of course there are the rallying cries of those who say a celebration on the anniversary of British occupation is the equivalent to dancing on their ancestors' graves. This used to be the greatest country on Earth, but weve lost the plot.. Don't have an account? A Warner Bros. Not much, it's the generators that people bring to power all this stuff that are the cause of all the trouble. Attention Deficit and Fatigue. Small wonder that some bus stops in Canberra look like pigsties. We can celebrate the achievements of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters, and the successes achieved together. Not everyone sees it as a reason to celebrate. 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. I've written about that date before, its origins and forgotten stories and recent almost-comical attempts to protect a public holiday. The singer couldnt resist breaking into laughter after two Aussie fans roped him into an elaborate tale with a NSFW punchline. These problems will not be solved by changing the date of Australia Day or giving it a new name. It's a reckoning other colonised countries are having, too. The rule of law, equality of the sexes, scientific curiosity, technological progress, responsible government plus the constant self-criticism and lust for improvement that makes us so self-conscious of our collective failings towards Aboriginal people all date from then; and may not have been present to anything like the same extent had the settlers fanning out from Sydney Cove been other than British. Some Australians wish to change the date of Australia Day in order to advance the process of reconciliation, while the Australia Day National Committee appeals to all Australians . They didnt. Letters may be edited. Why we need to change the date of Australia Day. The high rates of violence in the Aboriginal population, particularly against women, are well documented and widely known yet there is comparatively little outrage. Of course, no place is perfect. These are the actions of barbarians. This Wednesday marks the 234th anniversary of the First Fleet sailing into Sydney Cove in 1788, after Captain James Cook claiming the land for the British Crown. As an expat from Europe I have been living in Canberra for more than two years now. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander activist Calma said he felt the conservative Morrison government was rushing to make changes to Australia Day before it likely loses power at a national election due to take place before May. I have seen this wonderful village grow into a city of which we should all be very proud. The truth-telling all Australians need to hear. K-12. Watch: What January 26 means to different Australians. Time and Date AS 19952023. 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. If we wanted to make the whole thing more Australian, we could celebrate the day the Constitution passed the Australian Parliament. The list could go on, but no degree of offence to one's religious beliefs justifies slaughtering anyone not the cartoonists, not police providing protection, and not people shopping in a supermarket. For most people, the resulting tiredness is simply an inconvenience. In Voltaire's Candide two armies camp near each other before battle and both ask the same God for victory. It's getting harder and harder to find peace and quiet anywhere. As such, the City of Fremantle, while not opposing Australia Day celebrations, is having a culturally inclusive alternative event two days later. They treasure it and use the anniversary to mark it, as do their children. One West Australian mayor said that telling new citizens what they could or couldnt wear to their ceremonies wasnt fair dinkum, and he wouldnt be enforcing dress codes. This is the debate Australians have every year as we approach January 26, and really it's a country grappling with its own identity. This is also reflective on this date, we cant feel the healing and the empowerment without non-Indigenous people, its a calling to learn about the history and what the date represents., To join the conversation, please Less caffeine: Teens may be less likely to depend on caffeine to stay awake during the day. On average, annual vet expenses alone are estimated to cost close to $400 for dogs and around $270 for cats - and that's before you factor in medications, surgery and emergency treatment. Look at a bus stop near a school, office, cafe or shopping centre and you will see what I mean. In this article the truth is January 26 should be first fleet day, not Australia day by Smith in the. Published There are good arguments in favor of and in opposition to longer school days. 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? Australia Day has wandered around the calendar and it was only the 1988 Bicentenary which pinned it down through the work of the Australia Day Council. #9Today pic.twitter.com/fJRzobPeTG. Good and free public education and healthcare as a general rule. Helps recruitment: Offering potential and existing employees a flexible working pattern will help attract and retain talented professionals. Depletion Level is High 5. Consequences of success. In the United States, there's been a number of states who have ditched Columbus Day in favour of Indigenous People's Day. Many Australians Think the Day Should Be Changed Even though many Australians are apathetic about the date that Australia Day should be held ( 56% polled said they didn't care about it), other Australians, including Aboriginals want the date changed. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Why not nationalise super and create a sovereign wealth fund? A debate exists in Australia over whether the country should adopt a republican form of government and abandon its current constitutional monarchy. But any other day of the year Ill tie an Australian flag around my neck and Ill run through the streets.. Australia Day remains unprotected, Liberal Party Senator Dean Smith wrote in The Australian on Thursday. Why do I not see them upset by the injustices committed by Aboriginal people against other Aboriginal people today? Last time I went camping was at Wee Jasper. January 26 is not a day for celebration - that's why news.com.au is campaigning to change the date of Australia Day, so we can celebrate the best country in the world, without leaving anyone behind. 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. But I celebrate on January 26 with thousands of others for a quite different reason because Australia is a great country to live in. The most recent statistics reveal that the extension of DST saved . 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. I respect peoples right to mourn and even to claim that Australia Day celebrations are causing them grief, insult, and suffering. If we look at what appears to be an emerging generational divide, the conversation may eventually change and with it the way we mark the day. 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. Around this time every year, as the end of January fast approaches, the conversation around the legitimacy of celebrating Australia Day on January 26 amps up. Read the full article on The Conversation. That was not the . They also help to contribute to a stronger global economy. History of Daylight Savings Time (DST). The generators, plenty of them, were started at 7am and turned off (if we were lucky) at 10 at night. When Australia shaped its foreign and economic policy, Europe and the US were taken as an example. Works Cited: Electronic Sources. Through his advocacy work, Mr Dawe wants to break the cycle of trauma which happens to Aboriginal children who are placed in out-of-home care. We must not any longer shut our eyes to the consequences of our being on earth. The woman claiming she may be Madeleine McCann has hit back at Polish police, after they ruled out her version of events to be true. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. There too, the debate has been playing out for decades, with the social dial slowly shifting. By Amy Pearson. 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. But how will protesting about the date and Australia Day help those Aboriginal people most in need? It is a day for national unity, and it is too easy to come up with reasons for division. Please place rubbish bins at bus stops. Protesting about the day, I believe, is a smokescreen to obscure the real problems that many Aboriginal Australians face today. In doing so, it ignores more than 60,000 years of pre-colonial history and 230 years of multicultural migration to Australia.. Its slow and its usually hard fought, she says. All day long, the intrusive sound never stops. In his work, Mr Dawe has been trying to unravel the cycle of intergenerational trauma which began in 1788, was continued through Government-sanctioned policy through the Stolen Generation and carries on today. Here is my request to ACTION. For both Mr Dawe and Ms Burney, reconciling the suffering caused by Australias colonial must start with education, acknowledgment and truth. In recent years there has been a call by left-wing groups to move the date to a less controversial day. But the legacy of it isn't. Table of Contents hide. 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