Demonstrations on fraught Australian National Day

• Mike Wijers

  correspondent Australia

Demonstrations against the national holiday Australia Day have been held in several Australian cities today. Day of the invasion, day of survival, day of mourning: a few of the other names by which the day off is known in Australia. “We’ve always called it Invasion Day at home,” said Heath Riley, a Wiradjuri man. He is with his sons Rocco (10) and Tex (8) at a large demonstration in central Sydney.

The road has been blocked off for the thousands of protesters marching across the city. “On January 26, we think about our history, our culture. It’s not a day to celebrate, it’s a day to remember our ancestors. I want to pass that on to my children,” says Riley.

Australia Day has not been around that long: only since 1994 has January 26 been a national holiday. It is celebrated that in 1788 a British fleet docked in Sydney. The country then came into British hands and has since been known as ‘Australia’.

For the original Aboriginal population, this meant the beginning of much misery. Australia has a bloody colonial history. The British settlers ignored the presence of the Aboriginal community on arrival and determined that Australia no man’s land was: nobody’s land. Therefore, no treaty was concluded with the original population. Indigenous people have been massacred, deprived and oppressed for years.

Although Prime Minister Albanese says there are no plans to change the date of the national holiday, more and more Australians are deciding not to celebrate the day. Kristin Turner (25) came to the demonstration with a friend. “I want to be an ally and show my support for the Aboriginal people. We’ve taken so much from them, it’s time to give back,” she says. “This day is so painful, I don’t think we can celebrate.”

The Aboriginal community now only makes up about three percent of the population. Years of racist government policies disadvantage them in health care, education and the labor market.

The discussion about the position of the indigenous population is at the top of the agenda this year. A referendum will be held in a few months to enshrine a vote of the Aboriginal community in the constitution, an election pledge of centre-left Albanians.

Mark Allerton (67) hopes Australians will vote in favour. He wears a straw hat and holds a self-painted sign with the text on it Australia needs the voice. “This gives the Aboriginal community the opportunity to influence policies that directly affect them,” he says.

The population is still very divided about this constitutional amendment. The conservative opposition party is very critical, but would not confirm whether they are for or against. And although there was initially a lot of support for the plan, there is now also criticism from the Aboriginal population. Some activists want an agreement on land return and a treaty first.

But according to recent polls, the majority is still behind the date of the national day. Also, not everyone wants to break with the current holiday and traditions. “I am proud of my country and my culture,” says William Davison (20). He has come to Sydney with his mother to attend the harborside festivities.

“I know some people have a problem with the date. But there’s nothing wrong with what I’m celebrating today. I’m just really happy to be Australian and lucky enough to live here.”