A new national campaign is calling on the Australian Government to move Australia Day to 1 January and to formally recognise 26 January as a National Day of Mourning and Reflection.

For many Australians, 26 January is seen as a day of celebration. But for First Nations peoples, it marks the beginning of dispossession, violence, and deep cultural loss. For generations, this date has carried the weight of grief, trauma, and injustice wounds that are not confined to the past but continue to be felt today.

For nearly 90 years, First Nations leaders and communities have been asking Australia to reconsider this date.

On 26 January 1938, during the 150th anniversary of British colonisation, courageous leaders including Jack Patten, William “Bill” Ferguson, William Cooper, Margaret Tucker, Pearl Gibbs, and Doug Nicholls organised the first Day of Mourning. Their message was clear and powerful: while the nation celebrated, First Nations peoples mourned the dispossession and the loss of land, freedom, and lives.

Their call was not born of bitterness, it was born from a desire for truth, recognition, and justice. Nearly a century later, that call still echoes.This is not simply a debate about history.

For many First Nations communities, 26 January remains an ongoing wound, a reminder that the nation continues to celebrate on a date that marks the start of immense suffering for the world’s oldest continuing cultures.

Australia has an opportunity to move forward in a way that honours both truth and unity.

1 January 1901 marks the federation of Australia, the day the colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia. It is a day that belongs to all Australians, a moment that symbolises the birth of the nation itself.

Moving Australia Day to 1 January would allow Australians to celebrate our country together, united by a shared national beginning.

At the same time, formally recognising 26 January as a National Day of Mourning and Reflection would create space for the country to acknowledge the pain and resilience of First Nations peoples. It would be a day for remembrance, learning, and truth-telling, a chance to reflect on our full history with honesty and respect.

This change is not about division.
It is about dignity, recognition, and healing.

It is about ensuring First Nations peoples can grieve without ridicule, hate, denial, or racism.

It is about allowing all Australians to understand the truth of our shared history.

And it is about building a future where every child in this country can grow up knowing that their story and their ancestors’ story is respected.

We therefore respectfully call on the Parliament of Australia to:

Move Australia Day to 1 January, recognising federation and national unity.
Formally recognise 26 January as a National Day of Mourning and Reflection, acknowledging the impact of colonisation on First Nations peoples. Support national education, reflection, and truth-telling, so that all Australians can better understand the full story of this nation.

By recognising both truth and unity, Australia can take an important step toward reconciliation allowing First Nations peoples to grieve with dignity while building a stronger, more inclusive nation for future generations.

This is not a call to erase history.
It is a call to acknowledge it fully. It is a call for truth, justice, and respect.

Join us in calling on the Australian Government to make this change.

Sign the petition and help create a more honest, inclusive, and united future for all Australians.