The date of Australia Day should be changed from January 26 to the last Monday of January.  January 26 marks the day colonists set foot at Sydney Cove in 1788, leading to the establishment of Australia.  But it also marks the start of the tragic upheaval of Aboriginal people, and is seen by some as a day for sorrow and protest.  Division about the date foments ill-feeling from both sides and detracts from the celebration.  In the wider picture, barriers are created to learning about Aboriginal culture and working to overcome disadvantages.   If Australia had been invaded by another country in the past century we wouldn’t want to celebrate our national day on that date.

Australia Day has only been locked in on January 26 since 1994 – before that states chose their own day around the date, mostly on a Friday or Monday to also enjoy a long weekend.  The dates of Easter and America’s Thanksgiving are dependent each year on the moon and calendar.  Queen’s Birthday and Labour Day are individually set by state and territory governments.

Choosing an appropriate date much later in the year has been too big a change to contemplate.  Setting the last Monday in January allows an official long weekend, supporting tourism and avoiding some having to feign a “sickie”.  Enjoying the weekend then gives time to join in Monday’s events.  The timing fits in well with the end of school summer holidays.

Australia Day should be a day of pride in ourselves and our nation, to remember our history, both good and bad, and appreciate all the nationalities that make up our great home.  We should cherish and learn about our unique Aboriginal way of life, which dates back over 50,000 years and is the world’s oldest living civilisation.  The Australia Day Live 2021 concert on ABC was a heart-warming melding of Anglo and Aboriginal arts to show us the way. 

Sacrifices by the majority are often made to protect the physical and mental well-being of vulnerable groups.  For example, the strict measures during the covid-19 pandemic have been largely about protecting the lives of the elderly and infirm.  I am sorry that it has taken so long to understand Aboriginal people’s anger and distress about January 26.  A small change is really such a little thing but it would have a big impact.