'An unthinkable tragedy': How did this train crash happen? Your story on on Page 5 of Monday's Canberra Times lauding all the little luxuries also unfortunately highlights everything that has gone wrong. Cricket Australia stands firm on 'Australia Day' decision despite Prime Minister's criticism. We shouldnt invest too much glory in the First Fleets intentions and what it delivered. It is unfortunate that the defence of January 26 has included claims that the British arrival guaranteed the creation of a modern nation, and thus must be honoured. K-12. Australia should not be committed to any other region of the world. The debate has been revived by the Greens, because it is a perfect issue for the party. Those opposed to Australia Day, mainly for the date on which is celebrated, do so because of the historical significance the British invasion and the destruction it brought. 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. But how will protesting about the date and Australia Day help those Aboriginal people most in need? To make a satirical omelette you have to bruise some feelings. It wasn't until 1994 less than 30 years ago that all states and territories declared it a holiday. According to the 2020 Family Matters report published in November last year, while Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children represent just six per cent of the total population of Australias children, they also make up 37 per cent of all children who have been removed from their parents. For lack of a bin they throw it on the ground. Australias flag has changed many times. Though traditionally it had religious significance (and still does for some), for many people there is no religious meaning. The generators, plenty of them, were started at 7am and turned off (if we were lucky) at 10 at night. Economy, education, and health are all at a high level. 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. It would make more sense to celebrate it on the 9th of November-Delta Goodrem's birthday. Let's celebrate. However, it has dangerous animals and is much further away for travel. Housing and groceries, in particular, tend . The commemoration of this day has grown contentious in recent years as a result of a "change the date" campaign, in which supporters demand that Australia Day be moved from January 26 to May 9. 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. The truth-telling all Australians need to hear. The average bus stop in Europe has a rubbish bin, and for good reason. The prime, simple reason for Australia Day staying put is that most Australians want it that way so they can salute their nation. In that case, your Disability Support Pension stops until you return. The downsides of going cashless include less privacy, greater exposure to hacking, technological dependency . It was not recognised as a nationally celebrated holiday until 1994, making Australia Day as we know it the same age as Justin Bieber. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Opposition lawmakers accused Morrison of playing politics with Australias national day and TV commentators questioned the Prime Minister on whether it was a big enough issue to require top-level decrees. More importantly, the reaction (in France, Europe and elsewhere) to the massacres in Paris have proved beyond doubt the resilience and determination of the majority of ordinary citizens not to allow terror to rule the world. Why was Daylight Savings Time created, who invented it, and what is the point of having a time change every year? History of Daylight Savings Time (DST). But a group of conservative politicians led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison have pushed back hard, saying they will protect Australia Day and ensure it is respected. Previously it moved around the final week of that month to give people a long weekend. Im not just going to not change it, Im going to ensure it doesnt get eroded Thats our historical day and we need to work together, to come together on that day to ensure that we can make it an important day for all Australians, Morrison said earlier this month. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. 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? So, someone working a four-day week would be entitled to: 4 days x 5.6 weeks = 22.4 days. List of the Cons of Living in Australia. Then, of course, with the standard for indexation for pensioners and ComSuper retirees tied to the CPI, is it fair to assume that the Parliamentary pension scheme will follow suit? Register, Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout. The main proposal is to end the reign of the monarch of Australia (the Queen of England, Elizabeth the II) and her appointed Governor-General in Australia, replacing both with an elected president.This debate Continue reading "Australian . For us, thats a real true sign of reconciliation.. Workers would have more days off and more choice about when they took them. (Australia day) to change it to First Fleet Day instead. Your digital subscription includes access to content from all our websites in your region. If we wanted to make the whole thing more Australian, we could celebrate the day the Constitution passed the Australian Parliament. All the pros and cons of climate change now, you can decide! A proud member of the Wiradjuri nation, she says that Australia is still coming to terms with its past. The 26th of January commemorates the establishment of the first settlement in the colony of New South Wales. Join the conversation, you are commenting as. A tussle to decide if the loss of the first inhabitants should be commemorated, or the success of the new Australians celebrated. Two prominent Australians weigh in on the debate. 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. Generates Thousands of Jobs 5. This is the debate Australians have every year as we approach January 26, and really it's a country grappling with its own identity. The consequences of that have filtered through the generations, contributing to huge differences in health and financial outcomes for First Nations people, higher rates of incarceration and the number of children in out-of-home care. 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. Keep your letter to 250 words or less. That's the source of their power. Access unlimited news content and The Canberra Times app. The controversy has led to a growing push to change the date of the countrys national celebration to another day without the historical baggage. Students attend school for 45 days, or about nine weeks, then take off for three weeks, or 15 school days. However, she also acknowledges that change is incremental. "Boost in patrons for Canberra's Nightrider bus service over Christmas", says The Canberra Times (January 11). The Australia Talks National Survey 2021 has revealed a majority of people now believe Australia Day should not be celebrated on January 26, given the historical significance of the date for Indigenous nations. But changing the date of Australia Day is something we can do now. Bruce Woodley's Iconic Song 'I Am Australian' But changing the date of Australia Day is something we can do now. Consider the celebration of Christmas Day. Pro: Longer Evenings Setting the clocks forward one hour in spring does not create more daylight, but it does change the time (on the clock) the Sun rises and sets. In this sense, the inability to acknowledge the divisive date of January 26 is proof of that disconnect between Indigenous and some non-Indigenous Australians. I certainly dont see what happened at the time of the invasion as worthy of celebrating nobody does. Our present flag dates from only 1953. "Australia Day" is named by some as "Invasion Day" due to the dispossession of Indigenous land and the arrival of the First Fleet's at Port Jackson, Sydney, Australia in 1788. Australians have said to us - their delegates at his Convention - symbols are important and it is time that we had a symbol at the head of our system of government which is relevant to us - a Head of State who is one of us. Such gullibility would be funny were it not so ominous in this powerful and warlike nation. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Those figures have grown in recent years, suggesting, as a nation, we are becoming more prepared to face the brutal colonial legacy of this country. By changing the date, Australia can show that it is ready to truly accept and include Indigenous histories, cultures and contributions as a valued part of the Australian story. A protester waves a flag during an "Invasion Day" rally on Australia Day in Melbourne on January 26, 2018. "Spring forward or fall back" is just one way to remember which way set the clocks for Daylight Saving Time (DST). January 26 is Australia Day - our Australia Day. Its worth asking the same question of the British settlement of Australia at the same time as we acknowledge the dispossession of the original inhabitants. Post continues below. Should our national day beheld on January 26, the day the Union Jack was raised at Port Jackson on the land of the Eora clans? 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. Remittances are common in nations that invite immigrants. As a follower of his column years ago, I have thought of him often since hearing of his illness. Published Easier to Set Up 6. Mitigation of gender inequality. While some claim it to be a day of mourning, for me and for many others Australia Day is an opportunity to celebrate living in this fantastic country. Works Cited: Electronic Sources. Inc. Australia; Private Media; wpDiscuz. Its slow and its usually hard fought, she says. . If Australia was invaded today, if a foreign power pushed us all from our homes, forced us to speak another language, killed us en masse, then chose to celebrate that fact year after year, would you want to join the party? Boney received a wave of negative comments on social media after her speech, but also a large number of articles and commentary in support of her position. Christianity's history of brutality, conducted in the name of a man of peace, is longer than and as nasty as Islam's but this is never mentioned. Why some Australians want to move their controversial national day. Just over 26 per cent of our 24 million Australians were born overseas and many were granted their citizenship on January 26. For anyone who has had an awkward conversation with an older relative at a family barbecue, that's probably not so hard to believe. 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. Australian law allows creditors to force you into bankruptcy. Unlike sole traders required to pay tax on all income, the base company tax rate for registered companies is 25%* regardless of profit. By Amy Pearson. I am not sure if treason is still a crime on the statute books. I have never been able to book a short (A type) consultation when I have requested one. I hope you are ashamed to have been part of such a regressive and pointless gesture. It only began to be a national public holiday in 1994 - making it a mere 27-year-old tradition. *for the 2022/23 tax year, provided your aggregated turnover is less than $50 million. Our human rights are also . Warning: This article contains images of Indigenous people who have died. For younger Australians who were taught a more inclusive history at school, or have been educated by music, movies or social media, it looks like this change is already happening. Australian Catholic University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU. Why we need to change the date of Australia Day. While I see Australia Day as a day of celebration, it is also perfectly legitimate for people to take time to reflect on past injustices associated with the invasion. We should acknowledge this and celebrate what a great country Australia is - and work together to make it even better. Suppose you are to travel outside the country for more than 28 days within a year. Polls suggest a majority of Australians agree a 2017 survey found 54% of Australians supported keeping the date on January 26, while just 26% wanted it moved. When I was a kid, camping holidays were the highlight of our year. My sympathy and God's blessing to his grieving family. Donkey votes. A cornerstone of that is an acknowledgment of the trauma that began and has lingered since 1788. But whats indisputable is the historical origin of the date. According to a 2014 Rasmussen Report, only 33% of Americans see the purpose of DST. While former prime minister Kevin Rudd made a formal public apology to the victims of forced child removal in 2008, the practice still occurs. As one Gumbaynggirr elder said this week: "Change the date, it doesn't matter, we'll always be marking our survival. You may see it as tokenism, but to many, it's a signal of that understanding, of a willingness to move forward together as a unified country. 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January 26 marks the day the Union Jack was raised at Port Jackson on the land of the Eora clans, signifying the beginning of centuries of dispossession that permanently destroyed elements of Indigenous culture. Anthony Dillon receives funding from the Australian Research Council. Pros of a 4-day workweek can include cost savings, increased productivity, and employee retention. . One of the aims of DST is to make sure that people's active hours coincide with daylight hours so that less artificial light is needed. We tell our kids what happened to their ancestors, communities and families on this day and the impacts this has had and how this may have potentially impacted why they are in the out of home care system themselves, he says. On Sunday 3 September 1939, Prime Minister Robert Menzies declared to the nation that Australia was at war with Germany. But that happened despite the objectives of the First Fleet. I respect peoples right to mourn and even to claim that Australia Day celebrations are causing them grief, insult, and suffering. 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. In Ms Burneys decade-plus career in politics, shes witnessed a shift in attitude towards January 26 shift, especially in the past five years. A century ago, when DST was introduced, more daylight was a good thing because it meant less use of artificial light and more energy savings. As the first Aboriginal person to be elected to the NSW parliament and the first Aboriginal woman to serve in the Australian House of Representatives, Ms Burney says she sees the importance of having a national day, however it needs to be one all people can truly celebrate. Let's not knock this proposed light rail project: 50 years from now, when all major centres are connected by light rail including the international airport and the fast rail interstate network, the rest of Australia will look at us with envy. Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. For most people, the resulting tiredness is simply an inconvenience. 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?. It helps their aim to dignify murderers with terms such as Muslim fundamentalists, jihadis, Islamic State or any other words suggesting that the issue is "true believers" against the rest. Though the COVID-19 vaccine is unique in both its type and speed of release, a look at influenza vaccine policies can be instructive. 2023 Cable News Network. We should acknowledge this and celebrate what a great country Australia is and work together to make it even better. 2. Australia has the 12th highest cost of living in the world, with the US and the UK well behind it at 21st and 23rd, respectively. We must be patient and be wary of deliberately insulting other cultures as this makes integration of recent immigrants more problematic. Many Australians refer to January 26 as Invasion Day.. In doing so, it ignores more than 60,000 years of pre-colonial history and 230 years of multicultural migration to Australia.. But I celebrate on January 26 with thousands of others for a quite different reason because Australia is a great country to live in. Abso-bloody-lutely! How Australia is failing its indigenous population, And that started from that day. To others, it can never be detached from the past, from an event that started systematic oppression of an ancient culture. Recent moves to promote changing the date of our national day are informed by the fact that many Australians - both Indigenous and non-Indigenous - feel they cannot celebrate on January 26, because that date marks the commencement of a long history of dispossession and trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Essentially, terrorist shooters and bombers are willing to be killed because their religions tell them that if they do the right thing then there is a wonderful life awaiting them after death analogous to the wishful thinking of cargo cultists. Before we can settle on a way forward, there is more work to be done in terms of raising awareness of the fraught symbolism of January 26, and what Australia stands to gain by changing the date of our national day to one that represents the shared values of modern Australia. So lets grow up and treat Australia Day as a good time to reflect on how far weve come as a country and, for those in public life, how far weve yet to go. Two weeks before Australia Day 2019, Prime Minister Morrison announced potential measures which would ban councils from holding citizenship ceremonies on any day other than January 26. Besides, there are drawbacks to all the other contenders: too many people are the worse for wear on January 1, the anniversary of the foundation of the Commonwealth of Australia; and Anzac Day commemorates an unsuccessful military campaign (led, you guessed it, by the despised British). People are becoming more aware towards the day, he says. It's not magically going to undo centuries of marginalisation and disadvantage. Australia Day is held on the same date Britains First Fleet sailed into Sydney Harbor in 1788, beginning the European colonization which led to the modern nation of Australia. If you want to hold Australia Day ceremonies and be given that privilege, well, Australia Day is the day, Morrison said. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. All Rights Reserved. There are 364 other days to wear a black armband. Look at a bus stop near a school, office, cafe or shopping centre and you will see what I mean. Pros And Cons Of An Australian Republic 734 Words | 3 Pages. If the Australian Republic Movement has its way, they want the parliaments at different levels to nominate the most eligible and capable Australians. January 26 is not a day for celebration thats 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. 26 with thousands of others for a quite different reason because Australia is failing its Indigenous population and... That month to give people a long weekend Aboriginal people most in need, it never. 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