Change the date of Australia Day from Invasion Day
January 29th 2012 11:08
January 26th, 1788 was the day the First Fleet landed at Port Jackson. A week earlier, the ships had stopped at Botany Bay upon Captain James Cook's recommendation however Botany Bay was deemed unsuitable for farming.
It is on this day that Australia celebrates its national day. Until 1988, re-enactments of the First Fleet arriving were a regular feature of Australia Day celebrations. It is no wonder that many Aboriginal people consider January 26 as Invasion Day and thus, an unsuitable date for a national day that every member of the nation can celebrate.
Most countries celebrate a national day as its day of Independence although some celebrate the arrival of a settler group (such as Columbus Day in some states of the US and South America) as a minor secondary holiday, or have renamed the day as the arrival of Europeans led to the demise of Indigenous populations.
Several other countries are listed below:
Ireland - St Patrick's Day, March 17
St. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland
Norway - Constitution Day -May 17
Day their constitution was enacted
Tanzania - Independence Day, December 9
They became independent from Britain in 1961
Brazil-Dia da Independência, Independence Day, September 7
They became independent from Portugal in 1822
Cambodia - Independence Day, November 9
They became Independence from France in 1953
Germany - German Unity Day, October 3
The anniversary of the reunification of East and West Germany
The alternative instead is to change the date. But which date is suitable?
January 1st, 1901 was a monumental day. It was the first day of a new century, of a new year and of the colonies joined under a Federal government. The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act had been passed through the British parliament and sovereignty went live on New Years Day, 1901, marked with commemorative processions through Sydney's streets. Although Aborigines did not have citizenship at inauguration of the nation, the date at least celebrates nation building, not convicts landing.
There is only one problem with January 1 as a public holiday - it already is one. With many people having a big, boozy night the evening before, would anyone make it to Australia Day functions? New Year's Eve hangovers may overshadow the national day.
The advantages of allowing New Years' Day as Australia day is that it would be less interruptive to business. As the middle of the holiday season, even allowing an extra holiday for January 2 would not cause the disruption in momentum of getting back into the working year that January 26 causes.
Alternatively, 9 May 1901 was the date of Australia's first parliament. Federal elections were held in March and they were called for twelve o'clock on May 9. It is close to Labour Day but should not cause any conflict with Indigenous people.
Indigenous people and others sympathetic with their cause may wish the date to be changed but need to put forth a meaningful alternative.
It is on this day that Australia celebrates its national day. Until 1988, re-enactments of the First Fleet arriving were a regular feature of Australia Day celebrations. It is no wonder that many Aboriginal people consider January 26 as Invasion Day and thus, an unsuitable date for a national day that every member of the nation can celebrate.
Most countries celebrate a national day as its day of Independence although some celebrate the arrival of a settler group (such as Columbus Day in some states of the US and South America) as a minor secondary holiday, or have renamed the day as the arrival of Europeans led to the demise of Indigenous populations.
Several other countries are listed below:
Ireland - St Patrick's Day, March 17
St. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland
Norway - Constitution Day -May 17
Day their constitution was enacted
Tanzania - Independence Day, December 9
They became independent from Britain in 1961
Brazil-Dia da Independência, Independence Day, September 7
They became independent from Portugal in 1822
Cambodia - Independence Day, November 9
They became Independence from France in 1953
Germany - German Unity Day, October 3
The anniversary of the reunification of East and West Germany
The alternative instead is to change the date. But which date is suitable?
January 1st, 1901 was a monumental day. It was the first day of a new century, of a new year and of the colonies joined under a Federal government. The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act had been passed through the British parliament and sovereignty went live on New Years Day, 1901, marked with commemorative processions through Sydney's streets. Although Aborigines did not have citizenship at inauguration of the nation, the date at least celebrates nation building, not convicts landing.
There is only one problem with January 1 as a public holiday - it already is one. With many people having a big, boozy night the evening before, would anyone make it to Australia Day functions? New Year's Eve hangovers may overshadow the national day.
The advantages of allowing New Years' Day as Australia day is that it would be less interruptive to business. As the middle of the holiday season, even allowing an extra holiday for January 2 would not cause the disruption in momentum of getting back into the working year that January 26 causes.
Alternatively, 9 May 1901 was the date of Australia's first parliament. Federal elections were held in March and they were called for twelve o'clock on May 9. It is close to Labour Day but should not cause any conflict with Indigenous people.
Indigenous people and others sympathetic with their cause may wish the date to be changed but need to put forth a meaningful alternative.
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