These are the actions of barbarians. 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. Australia Day remains unprotected, Liberal Party Senator Dean Smith wrote in The Australian on Thursday. It does not have to be one or the other we can reflect on the past, with particular attention given to the injustices endured by Aboriginal people since the invasion, and celebrate what a great country Australia is today. Others said it could help schools reduce overcrowding by staggering start times throughout the year. And for those whose history is being denied, this isn't a war of words, but an exhausting yearly exercise in defending the pain of their existence. Register, Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout. There's more to us than that, more that deserves to be celebrated. 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. There's a lot of polling done on attitudes towards Australia Day, and the results vary depending on whose views are being canvassed. But whats indisputable is the historical origin of the date. The conscription debate. It is a day for national unity, and it is too easy to come up with reasons for division. 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. Climate and Nature. Voting in federal elections and referendums is compulsory for every Australian aged 18 and over. 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. As a self-proclaimed realist, federal opposition spokeswoman for Human Services Linda Burney, doesnt believe Australia Day will be changed from January 26. Arthur Phillip arrived at Sydney Cove and raised the national flag of the United Kingdom on January 26, 1788. Comments made, both in Europe and Australia, regarding the importance of ensuring all Muslims in France are an equal part of French society and enjoy these freedoms are equally important. Australians were once 'them' in their reactions to satirical attacks on what were then considered to be sacred cows. Surely Westfield Retail could display some moral fibre by granting shop owners rent relief from the colossal sums it saves from avoiding Australian tax, as identified by the international Tax Justice Network and Uniting Church research (12 January)? January 26 is Australia Day our Australia Day. 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? Legal and political voices have long called for Australia to lower the voting age to 16. A German analysis of 44 studies on energy use and DST found a positive relationship between latitude and energy savings. K-12. But any other day of the year Ill tie an Australian flag around my neck and Ill run through the streets.. Power Stations Require Lots of Reserves of Coal 3. Pros Australia Day has no long standing history, so there should be less resistance to change. Pros of a 4-day workweek can include cost savings, increased productivity, and employee retention. There's a lot of polling done on attitudes towards Australia Day, and the results vary depending on whose views are being canvassed. Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison watches day seven of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20. Don't have an account? There is no excuse for the attack on Charlie Hedbo. It was not recognised as a nationally celebrated holiday until 1994, making Australia Day as we know it the same age as Justin Bieber. The dispossession of Australia's First Peoples began on this date in 1788 representing a day of mourning rather than celebration. I choose not to repeat myself, because the date will change. Easier to Set Up 6. In the process the ALP the Greens chief political competitor has to respond to its own supporters who are sympathetic to the change argument and the backing from indigenous figures. The high rates of violence in the Aboriginal population, particularly against women, are well documented and widely known yet there is comparatively little outrage. Now its time to take a good hard look at ourselves, and make some tough decisions. A new social media site has enabled industry-first technology that makes content impossible for creeps to screenshot and screen record. 1. In this article the truth is January 26 should be first fleet day, not Australia day by Smith in the. Friction and resistance. 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. Australia has excellent weather with 300 days of sunshine and temperates never dipping below 10C. True. Australian Catholic University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU. More from Letters to the Editor Barnaby is both out of touch and running out of time As an expat from Europe I have been living in Canberra for more than two years now. Last time I went camping was at Wee Jasper. Watch: What January 26 means to different Australians. In recent years there has been a call by left-wing groups to move the date to a less controversial day. Not until 1935 did all the Australian states and territories use that name to mark that date. The events of the past two weeks in France have, quite rightly, horrified and appalled. Mamamia only refers to January 26 by its date, to acknowledge that it is not a day of celebration for all Australians. The prime, simple reason for Australia Day staying put is that most Australians want it that way so they can salute their nation. It had not maintained substantial armed forces during the years of peace. All the pros and cons of climate change now, you can decide! It is understandable for indigenous Australians to note January 26 as the start of a hostile occupation which led to massacres and cultural destruction. 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. Longer school days could result in attention deficit and fatigue, making the extra class time ineffective. Pros and Cons of Living in Australia vs. UK. Environmental Degradation 2. We know that truth and honesty is the first form of healing, he says, adding that this must be a joint operation between Indigenous, non-Indigenous Australians and broader society. It wasn't until 1994 less than 30 years ago that all states and territories declared it a holiday. Bruce Woodley's Iconic Song 'I Am Australian' 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. The issue of modifying school calendars causes tremendous division between those who feel that the traditional school calendar allows children to enjoy a long summer break and those who feel a more balanced, year-round schedule would allow for more restful breaks throughout the 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. Coming from someone who lived with this schedule for 12 years, here are some pros and cons to consider when it comes to the four-day school week The Cons Since an entire day is cut off the week, that extra time needs to be made up during the remaining four days. (Australia day) to change it to First Fleet Day instead. 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. Most of them have been read as 'implied rights' by the High Court. Conclusion. 2. Services Australia can pay these 28 days over . Why do I not see them upset by the injustices committed by Aboriginal people against other Aboriginal people today? The most common application of year-round education uses the 45-15 plan. Time and Date AS 19952023. Ensure you speak to a registered tax agent to ensure the planning is all legal. Australians can find their human rights that are protected in the Constitution, in common law, anti-discrimination laws and other State and Federal legislation. A similar poll from the ANU's Social Research Centre (SRC) in 2019 also found about 70 per cent of people supported the January 26 holiday. 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. Are there bigger issues than changing the date? Useful Byproducts 3. Australia is no longer a country that acts as part of the British Empire. Cons: our federal politicians are often very annoying and lack courage with policy. 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I will never see it finished but will be glad I saw the start. (Through awareness and truth telling) about this day, believe we will all be able to find reconciliation here in Australia. SHOULD THE AUSTRALIAN FLAG BE CHANGED? But I celebrate on January 26 with thousands of others for a quite different reason because Australia is a great country to live in. Australias flag has changed many times. Consequently, some Aboriginal people and a number of other Australians see Australia Day as a day of mourning as first marked in 1938 while others simply believe it is offensive to Aboriginal Australians.. Darumbal woman Amy McQuire, for example, describes the real pain felt on this date. So, someone working a four-day week would be entitled to: 4 days x 5.6 weeks = 22.4 days. Drawbacks of Organizational Change. 'An unthinkable tragedy': How did this train crash happen? I am firmly of the view that if the decision was being made today, the 26th of January would not be the date chosen, because I think Australia is moving progressively to want to know the full story of this country, she says. Consider the celebration of Christmas Day. Australia Day: Why we need to change the date There are many things we want to celebrate about Australia, but 26 January doesn't represent an inclusive day for everyone. 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. Goodbye peace and quiet. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. We've changed the date before - in fact, January 26 has only been a national public holiday since 1994 - and must do so again if we want to achieve a national day that unifies all Australians.. I hope you are ashamed to have been part of such a regressive and pointless gesture. 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. 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. Not until 1994 did they begin to celebrate Australia Day consistently . For many, the answer is no. "When asked to choose which date Australia Day should be celebrated on, less than a quarter (23 per cent) chose the current date from a range of options," she said. Students attend school for 45 days, or about nine weeks, then take off for three weeks, or 15 school days. Australia no longer aligns itself with the thinking of the. Answer (1 of 25): The basic reason why we should change the Australian Flag is that the flag no longer represents what Australia is and what Australia wants to be. Lisa Wilkinsons defence in her defamation case states she is not a lawyer and understood Tens colleagues had fact-checked Brittany Higgins allegations. The very fact that Benjamin Netanyahu (Prime Minister of Israel) and Mahmoud Abbas (President of the Palestinian Authority) marched in the same parade is a tribute, in itself, to the French concepts of brotherhood, liberty and equality. Easier to Transport 4. A proud member of the Wiradjuri nation, she says that Australia is still coming to terms with its past. Catch up on other pieces in the series here. Just over 26 per cent of our 24 million Australians were born overseas and many were granted their citizenship on January 26. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Inc. Australia; Private Media; wpDiscuz. The loud headlines, the hyperbolic commentary, the sense this debate won't be quickly resolved, or that perhaps some aren't even looking for resolution. It's getting harder and harder to find peace and quiet anywhere. Read More. We heard this from our Prime Minister just days ago: "Australia Day is about how far we've come," Scott Morrison said. Daylight Saving Time (DST) has been used for more than 100 years. Less caffeine: Teens may be less likely to depend on caffeine to stay awake during the day. They treasure it and use the anniversary to mark it, as do their children. Few former British colonies celebrate their national day on the actual day of colonization. Today many Australians celebrate Christmas for other reasons: family; end of another hard year; food and drink; and summer holidays. appreciated. If January 26 is abandoned, selection of an alternative day could be overwhelmed by history games: you provide a date and someone will provide the negating atrocity. 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. The date of Australia Day should be changed. I dont want Australia Day undermined in the future and just see it sort of fade away, Morrison said. 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 . By presuming not only that all Canberrans work 9-5 but also that Canberra is a city where good civilians are expected to be docilely tucked up in bed by 11pm, you are both perpetuating the negative reputation of Canberra as an inaccessible and dry city, undeserving of the title of capital, and refusing to extend public transport courtesies to those outside of a very particular working class. According to the Australia Day website: "The tradition of having Australia Day as a national holiday on 26 January is a recent one. Climate change pros and cons. The Australian flag debate is a periodic question over whether the Australian flag should be changed, particularly to remove the Union Jack from the canton, but also to possibly introduce a completely new design without the Southern Cross. They cannot to be excused or mitigated in any way on the grounds of religion, anyone's religion. Consequences of success. Housing and groceries, in particular, tend . My sympathy and God's blessing to his grieving family. 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. Today, the amount of energy saved from DST is negligible. Born in Australia 88 years ago, I would like to endorse Ester Gaia's call for a change in the date when we celebrate our national day (CT, January 13). Depletion Level is High 5. 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. 3. Why not nationalise super and create a sovereign wealth fund? The hordes of Canberrans who were finally able to use public transport in Canberra at night using the ever-stingy ACTION buses were, according to Territory and Municipal Services Minister Shane Rattenbury, "well-behaved". I have never been able to book a short (A type) consultation when I have requested one. A man thought he was in trouble with the RSPCA, but an animal cruelty report turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. But I can't separate the 26th of January from the fact that my brothers are more likely to go to jail than they are to go to school" says @BoneyBrooke, a proud Gamilaroi woman. 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. It's a reckoning other colonised countries are having, too. Being the father of an indigenous man, now aged 54, whom we adopted when a baby, I have witnessed the many forms of racial discrimination he, along with his natural siblings, suffered over the decades while living in white communities. They treasure it and use the anniversary to mark it, as do their children. Is it time for Australia to move its national day of celebration? Keep your letter to 250 words or less. The 28-year-old is the CEO and founder of Aboriginal-led mentoring program ID Know Yourself. 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. 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. In response to my words Australia is a great country to live in, some will immediately retort: Well, its not so great for many Aboriginal people. I agree, and this should never be forgotten. For Ms Burney, the date is a symbol of survival and like many Aboriginal people, she knows January 26 as Survival Day. 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. 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