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Australia Day Observances Across the Nation Marked by Diverse Events, Protests, and Incidents

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Australia observes its national day on January 26, a date interpreted differently across the country. While official Australia Day events and citizenship ceremonies proceed, First Nations communities and their allies nationwide hold "Invasion Day" and "Survival Day" rallies, marches, and cultural festivals. These events highlight the profound historical impact of British colonization.

A recent poll indicated an increase in public support for retaining the current date.

The day also saw several incidents, including an arrest at an Invasion Day rally in Perth following a device being thrown, and arrests during anti-immigration demonstrations across major cities where extremist elements were reported.

Historical Context of January 26

January 26, 1788, marks the date when Arthur Philip, commander of the First Fleet, raised the Union Flag in Sydney Cove, establishing the first British colony. This pivotal event is widely considered to have initiated conflict with Australia's First Peoples.

The concept of "Foundation Day" originated in this first colony. By 1935, all states had adopted January 26 as "Australia Day," and it was designated a national public holiday in 1994.

For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, January 26 represents invasion, violence, and dispossession, rather than a day of national celebration. Indigenous peoples have protested on this date for nearly 90 years.

For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, January 26 represents invasion, violence, and dispossession, rather than a day of national celebration.

Notable Historical Protests

  • The 1938 Day of Mourning: Marking 150 years since British colonization, thousands of Aboriginal men and women marched in Sydney. Organized by the Australian Aborigines League (AAL) and the Aborigines Progressive Association (APA), this event was the first national gathering of Indigenous people from different states to protest their historical treatment. Demands included full citizenship rights and the disbandment of discriminatory Protection Boards. The protest led to a meeting with Prime Minister Joseph Lyons and is considered foundational for modern January 26 rallies and the 1967 referendum, which granted Indigenous Australians inclusion in population figures and gave the Commonwealth power to make laws for them.

  • The 1972 Aboriginal Tent Embassy: On January 26, 1972, four First Nations men established a protest site opposite Old Parliament House in Canberra. This site became the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, recognized as a continuous protest for Indigenous land rights, now also advocating for First Nations sovereignty and self-determination.

Contemporary protests aim to highlight the country's origins and the survival and ongoing connection of First Peoples to Country, despite historical assimilation policies. Calls for systemic change include addressing the over-representation of Indigenous adults and youth in prison, raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility, and implementing recommendations from the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. The rallying cry "not a date to celebrate" advocates for moving the national day to a less contentious date.

Nationwide Events and Observances

Across Australia, a range of events took place to mark January 26. These included official Australia Day ceremonies, citizenship events, and community gatherings. Simultaneously, First Nations communities and their allies organized numerous "Invasion Day," "Survival Day," or "Day of Mourning" events.

These observances, held in major cities and regional areas, included:

  • Dawn services and reflection ceremonies.
  • Cultural festivals, such as Sydney's Yabun Festival and Victoria's Share the Spirit Festival, which offer opportunities to engage with First Nations culture.
  • Rallies and marches addressing issues such as black deaths in custody, First Nations children in out-of-home care, land rights, and treaty.

Some Indigenous leaders, such as Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Kerrynne Liddle, stated their intention to celebrate Australia Day. Events like Survival Day festivals also invite participation from all, reflecting on the past and celebrating strength and survival.

Public Opinion and Political Perspectives

A Resolve Political Monitor poll, conducted between January 12 and 16 with 1800 voters, indicated an increase in public support for retaining January 26 as Australia Day. The poll found that 68% of respondents supported the current national day. Among the 18-34 age group, 55% preferred keeping the current date.

Support for changing the date decreased from 39% in January 2023 to 16%. The poll also reported that 66% of respondents believe having a national day contributes to social cohesion, and 74% agreed with the idea of having a national day.

The Resolve Political Monitor poll indicated an increase in public support for retaining January 26 as Australia Day, with 68% of respondents supporting the current date.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promoted Australia Day as an occasion for national unity, highlighting three phases of Australia: Indigenous culture, the arrival of the British, and multiculturalism. The federal Labor Party and the former Coalition support January 26, while the Greens advocate for a date change.

Indigenous rights campaigner Thomas Mayo acknowledged the poll trends but reiterated the perspective of many First Nations people who consider January 26 a day of mourning due to its marking the beginning of British colonization. Reconciliation Australia emphasized the importance of respectful debate regarding January 26, focusing on understanding historical facts.

Incidents and Other Demonstrations

January 26 also saw a number of incidents and separate demonstrations:

Perth Incident

A 31-year-old man was arrested in Perth after allegedly throwing a device into a crowd of approximately 300 people at an Invasion Day rally in Forrest Place mall around 1pm local time. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch stated the man indicated the device might contain explosives. Forensic teams are assessing the device, which was described as rudimentary, about the size of a medium coffee cup, and containing ball bearings, screws, and an unknown liquid in a glass container. Police are searching the man's home and interviewing him; no charges have been laid yet. Authorities, including Commissioner Blanch and Premier Roger Cook, stated they believe there is no ongoing threat. The motivation of the individual remains unclear.

Anti-Immigration Rallies

Anti-immigration rallies, held under the "March for Australia" banner, took place across several major Australian cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, Canberra, and Adelaide. These events, which marked the third series of such rallies, drew crowds of varying sizes.

Incidents reported at these rallies include:

  • In Sydney, a 31-year-old man was arrested and charged with publicly inciting hatred on the ground of race, causing fear. This stemmed from alleged comments made during an open mic session at a Moore Park rally, which police described as unequivocally aligned with Neo-Nazi ideology.
  • In Melbourne, Victoria Police are investigating an incident where four men allegedly racially abused two individuals, smashed their car window, and one performed a Nazi salute. This occurred during an incident in the CBD where approximately 2,000 people gathered for a March for Australia event.
  • In Canberra, a 37-year-old man was arrested during a confrontation between March for Australia participants and Invasion Day demonstrators outside Parliament House. Police intervened to separate the groups.
  • Former members of the Neo-Nazi group the National Socialist Network (NSN) were observed at the Sydney rally, some wearing marshalling vests. Neo-Nazi symbols and slogans were displayed, and chants of "send them back" (referring to migrants) were reported. An organizer of March for Australia, Bec Freedom, stated that Neo-Nazis had offered to volunteer as marshals and were later ejected by police.
  • One Nation politicians Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts, along with Victorian Independent Senator Ralph Babet, attended a rally in Brisbane.
  • Attendees expressed concerns regarding "mass immigration," its impact on the housing market and cost of living, and opposition to digital ID cards. Some speakers articulated views emphasizing "Anglo Celtic ancestry" and rejecting diversity.
  • In Sydney, police intervened after a couple who booed protesters were rushed and verbally abused by members of the crowd.