Australia Day Controversy

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As an American, the controversy behind the nation’s holiday was not something I really thought about. Unlike Australia, the Fourth of July is widely celebrated and is a marker of a significant event in American history. Australia Day is celebrated on the day the British arrived in Port Sydney. People now debate if January 26th is an accurate representation of Australia, its population, and its history, and whether the holiday should take place on a different day. Originally, January 26th was solely celebrated in New South Wales, as that is the state where it holds the most significance. It was not until 1944 that “all states and territories agreed to celebrate.” Even then, some people disagreed with this decision. Although this date represented …show more content…
The Aboriginal people often view Australia Day as ‘Invasion Day’ or ‘Survival Day.’ January 26th is the marker for the beginning of years of maltreatment for the Aboriginal people. “Aboriginal activist Michael Mansell believes that Australia Day celebrates ‘the coming of one race at the expense of another.’” Even this year, protests happen on Australia Day to give voices to the Stolen Generations and to try to change this holiday to a day that is more inclusive for those of all backgrounds. People took to the streets to protest in Melbourne and Sydney to show their support to those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait descent. Yes, January 26th marks the British First Fleet, but it also marks the start of “when Indigenous people began being oppressed - massacred, dispossessed of their lands and cut off from their culture.” Australia Day is almost an exception to most national holidays. As opposed to celebrating the beginning of the nation, as most countries celebrate, Australia Day marks the beginning of British

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