Australia Day Debate

I recently provided a speech my partner presented for Australia Day, it went to print in Australian news papers which caused her to be a little concerned.

First some points

• Australia became an independent nation on 1st Jan 1901

• on 26 Jan 1788 Arthur Phillip arrived in Sydney Cove raising the British flag and declaring the cove part of the British Colony.

• In 1994 Prime Minister John Howard declared 26 Jan a public holiday and Australia day.

It's important to note that in the 1700s almost 1800s feudalism was ending and governance and laws preceded. Terra Nullius was the maritime law of the day. Upon arrival Cook opened fire on Indigenous peoples breaching international law. The shield which hosts a bullet hole was claimed by Joseph Banks and is now on show in the British Museum.

But that's a topic for another time, let's go back to the OP.

There's movement at current to change the date in Australia as the current date is not reflective or respectful of first nations peoples or factually correct on when Australia was actually founded.

The current date was established by John Howard who was a British loyalist and not a supporter of an Independent Australia.

My wife spoke about her experiences and her article was published. There is a significant amount of resentment and backlash at people who speak out about changing the date.

However the general public rallied behing her with many responding and heading the call for action. My wife had a tear in her eye today as she read all the letters of support and the emails congratulating her.

There is no doubt in my mind that we will see a change to the date.