'Republic and Treaty First': Why Some Think We Should Get Rid of Australia Day Altogether

There’s an increasing push to change the date of Australia Day, but some are arguing it should be dismantled altogether.

"I don’t actually think we should celebrate Australia Day as a day at all—let alone on January 26," Professor Bronwyn Carlson explains to Student Edge, cutting straight to the heart of her argument.

Professor Carlson is a D'harawal woman and the head of Macquarie University’s Department of Indigenous Studies. She dedicates her academic studies to exploring Aboriginal identity, and is working on interactions in the social media sphere.

While the movement to change the date of Australia Day from 26 January to an alternative date is increasing in momentum, Professor Carlson wants to remind everyone that it isn’t going to solve Australia's larger issues.

"Historically, since 1788, Aboriginal people have protested the arrival [of British colonialists]," Professor Carlson says.

"Right back, as early as [1938], Indigenous people have established a day of mourning."

Many have argued that the current date celebrates the beginning of colonial Australia, ignoring the fact that the land was already occupied by Indigenous people, and that modern-day Australia was more than a century away from existing.

"It’s supposed to be a day to celebrate a nation as a whole… to celebrate how wonderfully multicultural we are and our wonderful achievements of this world," Professor Carlson says.

"But, if we look at recent U.N. condemnation about the way in which Australia has treated refugees… has treated migrants... and continues to oppress Indigenous people... I’m not sure what we’re celebrating."

This is why Professor Carlson believes changing the date won’t fix the issue at the core of the celebration.

"The problem with just changing the date is that colonialism in this country rolled out from 1788, but it didn’t reach other parts of this country until [in some cases] 100 years later," she argues.

"So, on which date of the calendar year were Aboriginal people not subject to murder, massacre or oppression during all that time?"

While both the Liberal and Labor parties have publicly opposed changing the date or reconsidering what Australia Day means, Labor MP Linda Burney has called for a separate public holiday to celebrate the achievements of Australia’s Indigenous people

"[I think] it would go a long way in challenging some of the stereotypes that people have in this country that Indigenous people do nothing," Professor Carlson says.

"I still get emails from Australians telling me I should be grateful for the arrival of [Captain] Cook and [Lachlan] Macquarie and that people like me are nothing but bludgers."

Professor Carlson isn’t against having a national public holiday to celebrate Australia’s achievements; there just need to be a few vital steps before we get to a stage where it can be celebrated by everyone equally.

"I think we can have Australia Day when the country becomes a republic," Professor Carlson admits.

"We give treaty to Indigenous people and we cut ties with the monarchy."

Read More:

Here Are Five Myths About Australia Day (and the Reason Some Aussies Want to #ChangetheDate)

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