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Australia's Indigenous Minister Supports Australia Day Being On January 26

Australia's Indigenous Minister Supports Australia Day Being On January 26

Ken Wyatt believes we should change the way we celebrate Australia Day rather than change the date.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Australia's federal Indigenous Minister has drawn a line in the sand for the debate about Australia Day.

There has been a growing movement in recent years to get the annual celebration of the nation moved from January 26.

Many believe it's inappropriate to highlight Australia's achievements and history on the day Captain Arthur Phillip landed at Sydney Cove.

While it marked a huge turning point for the country, the First Fleet's arrival also marked the beginning of death and cultural destruction for the Indigenous people who had lived in Australia for thousands of years.

The debate around when we should celebrate Australia Day rages throughout the year and reaches fever pitch in January.

Alamy

However, Ken Wyatt has revealed the federal government won't be budging on marking the day on any other date any time soon.

He responded to Perth MP Patrick Gorman's calls to change the date, telling The West Australian that we need to come together rather than divide and fall.

"I continue to stand with the majority of Australians who believe Australia Day should remain our national day, on the 26th of January," he said.

"Australia Day is a day where as a nation we acknowledge and celebrate the rich diversity of all Australia's cultures, from our more than 260 Indigenous cultures to our newest of citizens."

Minister Wyatt explained that Australia Day is meant to be a time where we 'reflect on our shared history, the highs and lows, to respect the stories of others and celebrate our nation, its achievements, but most of all its people'.

Alamy

He added: "Like the Prime Minister, I want to bring Australians together. To bring Australians together, I believe we can improve the way we celebrate Australia Day, by being more respectful and inclusive.

"As Labor's Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney observed earlier this year: 'while we cannot change the date, we can change the way we observe it'."

The federal government and Prime Minister have constantly rejected calls to change the date, even though Australia Day has only been celebrated on the same day around the country since the 1990s.

Campaigners have put forward a bunch of dates that could work, including May 8 (because it would say 'mate'), January 1 (because that's when the Commonwealth of Australia was created back in 1901), May 27 (because it's when Australia kicks off Reconciliation Week) or even July 30 (which was the date that the first Australia Day was held).

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Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Australia