There's a lot of noise around January 26th each year. Arguments erupt. Names get called. Social media becomes a battlefield. And in all that heat, very few people actually stop, listen, and engage with what's really being said.
This isn't about erasing history. It's not about hating Australia. And it's certainly not about attacking anyone personally for enjoying a public holiday. But if we're going to have this conversation, and we must, then we need to base it on facts, not misinformation. We need to understand the difference between the version of history many of us were taught and the lived reality of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This piece aims to cut through the confusion, address the most common objections to changing the date, and clarify some of the myths that keep circulating. It's written with respect for everyone involved in this debate, because respect is precisely what's missing when we celebrate a national day on a date that marks the beginning of dispossession, violence, and trauma for the First Peoples of this land.
The Misinformation Problem
One of the most insidious tactics in public debate is the blurring of facts. When media outlets, commentators, and even some historians muddy the waters between what actually happened and convenient narratives, it creates confusion. That confusion serves a purpose: it makes it harder for people to reach informed conclusions, and it fans the flames of division.
So let's be clear. Let's address the objections. Let's bust the myths. And let's do it with the facts front and centre.
Common Objections to Changing the Date
Objection 1: "You're erasing our history!"
This is perhaps the most common concern. People worry that changing the date means pretending colonisation never happened or denying British heritage.
The reality: Changing the date doesn't erase history, it reframes what we choose to celebrate. We can absolutely acknowledge 1788 in museums, schools, and history books. We can teach about the arrival of the First Fleet, the establishment of the colony, and the profound impact it had on this land and its people. What we're questioning is whether that particular day, the day that marks the beginning of frontier violence, dispossession, and cultural destruction, should be the day we throw a national party.
Germany doesn't celebrate the day Hitler came to power, but they haven't erased that history. In fact, they teach it rigorously. Remembering history and celebrating it are two entirely different things.
The distinction matters: History is complex. It includes painful chapters. Acknowledging that doesn't diminish anyone's heritage, it enriches our understanding of how we got here and what we owe to those who suffered along the way.
Objection 2: "It's just a public holiday, stop being so sensitive!"
Some people argue that Australia Day is simply a day off for barbecues and cricket. It's not that deep. Aboriginal people are overreacting.
The reality: If it's truly "just a day off," then moving it shouldn't matter, should it? Yet the fierce resistance to changing the date proves that it is symbolic. For First Nations people, January 26th marks the beginning of massacres, the Stolen Generations, land theft, and ongoing systemic disadvantage. Asking them to "celebrate" on this date is like asking Jewish people to party on Kristallnacht.
Objection 3: "Aboriginal people should just 'get over it', it happened so long ago!"
This objection rests on the idea that colonisation was 200-plus years ago, so it's time to move on and stop dwelling on the past.
The reality: The Stolen Generations didn't end until the 1970s. There are living survivors—people who were forcibly removed from their families as children. Aboriginal Australians today still experience:
- Life expectancy 8–10 years lower than non-Indigenous Australians
- Incarceration rates 27 times higher
- Ongoing disadvantage in health, education, and employment
This isn't ancient history. It's intergenerational trauma that continues to this day.
Objection 4: "Changing the date divides the country!"
The argument here is that we need unity, not division. Changing the date will cause more conflict and make things worse.
The reality: The division already exists. It exists every January 26th when First Nations people mourn while others celebrate. Ignoring Aboriginal pain for the sake of a false sense of "unity" means asking an entire people to shut up and assimilate. True unity requires listening, respect, and a willingness to change. You cannot build unity on the foundation of dismissing an entire people's grief.
Objection 5: "Aboriginal people get special treatment already, now they want to take our day too!"
This objection—often steeped in racism—claims that First Nations people receive benefits, land rights, and funding, and now they want to control when we celebrate. It's framed as reverse discrimination.
The reality: Aboriginal Australians aren't "taking" anything. They're asking for basic respect. The "special treatment" argument conveniently ignores:
- 65,000-plus years of prior occupation
- Ongoing systemic disadvantage across nearly every social indicator
- No treaty has ever been signed
- No formal apology until 2008
- Sovereignty was never ceded
Asking people not to celebrate your trauma on a national level isn't "special treatment." It's human decency.
Objection 6: "Captain Cook and the British brought civilisation and progress!"
This is where the objection crosses firmly into racist territory. The claim is that before colonisation, Aboriginal people had no technology, agriculture, or development. The British brought law, order, education, and modernity, and we should celebrate that.
The reality: This is white supremacist rhetoric, plain and simple. Aboriginal Australians had:
- 65,000-plus years of sustainable land management
- Complex kinship systems and governance structures
- Sophisticated astronomy, navigation, and agriculture
- Over 250 distinct language groups
"Progress" came at the cost of genocide, stolen children, massacres, and cultural destruction. That's not civilisation. That's colonisation.
Objection 7: "If you don't like Australia, leave!"
This one is particularly galling. The claim is that if Aboriginal people and "woke leftists" hate Australia so much, they should move somewhere else.
The reality: Aboriginal people are Australia. They were here for 65,000 years before colonisation. Telling the original inhabitants to "leave" their own country is the height of colonial arrogance. And loving your country means wanting it to be better—not blindly defending its worst moments.
Objection 8: "No one alive today was responsible for what happened!"
This objection argues that modern Australians didn't commit massacres or steal land, so we shouldn't be blamed or made to feel guilty for what our ancestors did.
The reality: This isn't about guilt—it's about responsibility. We didn't create the injustice, but we benefit from it. We live on stolen land. Our systems, wealth, and infrastructure were built on dispossession. And we have the power to choose whether we perpetuate that harm or work toward repair.
Objection 9: "There's no perfect date, someone will always be offended!"
The logic here is that no matter what date we choose, someone will find a problem with it, so we might as well keep the tradition we have.
The reality: This is defeatist logic. Yes, no date will be perfect, but any other date wouldn't mark the beginning of genocide. Options that have been suggested include:
- January 1 (Federation Day—when Australia became a nation in 1901)
- May 27 (the 1967 Referendum—when Aboriginal people were finally counted in the census)
- May 8 ("Mate" backwards—cheeky Aussie spirit)
The point isn't perfection. The point is not celebrating invasion.
Objection 10: "This is just political correctness gone mad!"
The argument here is that the "woke mob" and "virtue signallers" are forcing their agenda on everyday Australians who just want to enjoy their country. It's cancel culture run amok.
The reality: Listening to First Nations people isn't "political correctness", it's basic human decency. Aboriginal Australians have been protesting January 26th since 1938. That's 86 years of asking for respect. This isn't a new "woke" trend, it's a long-standing call that's finally being heard.
If your "tradition" requires ignoring the pain of an entire people, perhaps it's time for a new tradition.
Myth-Busting: Did Australia Day Always Celebrate 1788?
One of the most dangerous pieces of misinformation circulating recently is the claim that Australia Day celebrates January 26th, 1949, when Australians became citizens through the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948, not the 1788 invasion.
This is categorically false.
The Timeline of Australia Day
- 1791: The first "Anniversary Day" was celebrated by Captain Arthur Phillip on January 26th, marking three years since his arrival at Sydney Cove in 1788.
- 1915: "Australia Day" was formally established (initially on July 30th) as a morale booster during World War I.
- 1931: Victoria is the first state to recognise "Foundation Day" on January 26.
- 1935: All states and territories agreed to use the single name "Australia Day" for January 26th, the public holiday varied across states and territories.
- 1949: The Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 came into effect, but Australia Day already existed.
- 1994: Australia Day became a consistent national public holiday across all states on January 26.
Australia Day existed 34 years before the 1949 citizenship act. The celebration has always been tied to the arrival of the First Fleet and the beginning of British colonisation.
First Nations People Were Excluded from the 1949 Citizenship Benefits
This is the most crucial counter-fact that demolishes the "citizenship celebration" argument.
In Queensland:
- Until 1965, Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders were specifically excluded from voting in state elections.
- The Elections Act 1885, Section 6, explicitly excluded "Aboriginal natives" from voting.
- The 1930 amendment extended disqualifications to Torres Strait Islanders and anyone under the "control and supervision of the Protector of Aborigines."
- Queensland was the last state to grant Indigenous voting rights, on December 17th, 1965.
Federally:
- Indigenous Australians only received the federal right to vote in 1962, 13 years after the 1949 citizenship act.
- Even then, enrolment was voluntary (though voting became compulsory once enrolled).
- It remained illegal to encourage Aboriginal people to enrol to vote under Commonwealth law.
Living conditions post-1949:
As Professor Amanda Nettelbeck of the University of Adelaide notes: "The vast majority of Aboriginal people were still living under the oppressive authority of Welfare and Protection Boards up to the 1960s, which made them subject to discriminatory laws."
The 1949 Act Did Not End British Subject Status
Even after the passage of the Australian Citizenship Act 1948, Australian citizens continued to hold dual status as Australian citizens and British subjects. This dual status wasn't repealed until the Australian Citizenship Amendment Act 1984.
What January 26th, 1788, Actually Commemorates
According to the Australian Parliament House: January 26th, 1788, marks "Captain Arthur Phillip landing in Sydney Cove and raising the Union Flag… The colony was formally founded and Arthur Phillip's Governorship proclaimed on 7 February."
Professor Amanda Nettelbeck confirms: "Australia Day 1949 was the date when the newly-passed Australian Citizenship Act 1948 came into effect, but the author is incorrect in implying that Australia Day was created to celebrate this event. National celebrations on 26 January had existed in one form or another since 1915."
The bottom line: Claiming Australia Day celebrates 1949 citizenship is historically false and particularly harmful because it:
- Erases the lived reality of Indigenous exclusion post-1949
- Whitewashes the colonial invasion history
- Falsely suggests First Nations people benefited from 1949 citizenship when they were systematically excluded
Facts About the Day of Mourning You Should Know
The First Fleet Didn't Arrive on January 26th
The First Fleet arrived in Botany Bay between January 18th and 20th, 1788. After landing, settlers relocated to Sydney Cove on January 25th. The next morning—January 26th—Sir Arthur Phillip claimed the land for King George III.
The date marks colonisation and the assertion of British sovereignty, not the arrival of ships.
Aboriginal People Have Protested Australia Day Since 1938
On the 150th anniversary of colonisation, First Nations leaders held a silent march in Sydney, calling it the "Day of Mourning." Their resolution protested the "callous treatment" of Aboriginal people and demanded equality, citizenship, and the right to participate fully in Australian society.
"Invasion Day" gained prominence in 1988. "Survival Day" concerts began in 1992.
This resistance isn't new. It's been ongoing for 86-plus years.
Aboriginal People Were Forced Into a Degrading Re-Enactment in 1938
For the 150th anniversary, organisers planned a re-enactment of the First Fleet landing. When Sydney's Aboriginal community refused to participate, authorities brought in men from Menindee in western New South Wales and locked them in Redfern Police Barracks.
They were then forced to run from the British in an inaccurate, humiliating spectacle designed for public entertainment.
The Aboriginal Tent Embassy Was Established on January 26th, 1972
Four First Nations men set up a beach umbrella opposite Parliament House in Canberra. The "Aboriginal Embassy" symbolised how the government treated Indigenous Australians as "aliens in our own land."
As activist Gary Foley said: "So like other aliens, we needed an embassy."
The Tent Embassy remains a powerful symbol of sovereignty and resistance.
Over 40,000 People Marched on January 26th, 1988
Aboriginal protesters and allies staged Sydney's largest march since the 1970s anti-Vietnam War demonstrations. They marched from Redfern to Hyde Park to Sydney Harbour, marking 200 years of British occupation.
The documentary 88 captures this powerful moment when grassroots movements began to shift Australia's social consciousness.
Australia Day Wasn't a National Public Holiday Until 1994
While the name "Australia Day" dates to the early 1900s, it only became a consistent public holiday across all states in 1994, just 30 years ago.
This "national tradition" is newer than many people think.
British Settlement Was Violent, Not Peaceful
Between 1788 and 1900, the Aboriginal population decreased by 90 per cent. British diseases, smallpox, measles, tuberculosis, devastated communities with no immunity.
At least 270 state-sanctioned massacres occurred over 140 years. First Nations people resisted from day one, and paid with their lives.
Resources such as the Frontier Wars Stories podcast and the Survival Guide from Radio Skid Row document this history in detail.
Australia Was Never "Undiscovered"
Captain Cook's journal entry from August 21st, 1770, reads: "We saw the smoke of fire in several places; a certain sign that the country is inhabited."
Despite knowing this, Cook claimed the land as "terra nullius", belonging to no one.
Aboriginal people have lived here for 65,000-plus years. There was no "discovery." Only invasion.
Did Cook Lie About Terra Nullius?
It's complicated. Cook didn't explicitly lie, but he ignored what he knew to be true.
What Cook Actually Knew
Cook was fully aware that Aboriginal people inhabited Australia. His own journal entry from August 21st, 1770, the day before he claimed possession, reads:
"We saw the smoke of fire in several places; a certain sign that the country is inhabited."
Cook's journals are filled with encounters with Aboriginal people throughout his voyage up the east coast. He described their presence, their dwellings, their fishing practices, and even armed confrontations.
King George III's Instructions to Cook
The Secret Instructions issued to Cook in 1768 were clear about what to do if he encountered Indigenous peoples:
"You are also with the Consent of the Natives to take Possession of Convenient Situations in the Country in the Name of the King of Great Britain… or, if you find the Country uninhabited take Possession for His Majesty."
Cook was instructed to either:
- Get consent from the natives if the land was inhabited, or
- Take possession if uninhabited.
Cook did neither. He knew the land was inhabited but claimed it anyway without seeking any consent.
What Cook Actually Did on Possession Island
On August 22nd, 1770, Cook landed on what he named Possession Island in the Torres Strait and claimed the entire eastern coast of Australia for Britain:
"I now once more hoisted English Coulers and in the Name of His Majesty King George the Third took posession of the whole Eastern Coast… by the Name of New South Wales together with all the Bays, Harbours Rivers and Islands situate upon the said coast."
Cook made this claim despite:
- Seeing Aboriginal people on Possession Island that very day
- Recording encounters with Aboriginal people throughout his entire voyage
- His secret instructions requiring consent from natives
The Terra Nullius Lie Evolved Over Time
Cook himself never used the term "terra nullius." The legal fiction of terra nullius—land belonging to no one—developed after Cook's voyage and became the legal principle used to justify British colonisation. It wasn't formally overturned until the Mabo decision in 1992.
How Cook Violated His Instructions
In his journal entry, Cook wrote:
"The Western side I can make no new discovery the honour of which belongs to the Dutch Navigators… but the Eastern Coast from the Latitude of 38° South down to this place I am confident was never seen or viseted by any European before us."
Cook claimed the land on the basis that no European had seen it before—not that it was uninhabited. This allowed him to sidestep his instructions about gaining native consent.
Captain Phillip's Later Observation
When the First Fleet arrived 18 years later, Captain Arthur Phillip himself contradicted Cook's implication of terra nullius:
"Sailing up into Sydney cove we could see natives lining the shore shaking spears and yelling."
Phillip was reportedly "astounded with the theory of Cook's terra nullius" given the obvious Aboriginal presence.
Why Cook's Actions Matter
Cook's failure to seek consent, as his instructions required, and his claim based on "discovery" rather than vacancy created the foundation for:
- The terra nullius doctrine: the legal fiction that Australia belonged to no one
- Dispossession without treaty: Britain never made treaties with Aboriginal peoples
- Systematic colonisation: justified on the basis that the land was "available" for taking
As noted by the National Archives UK: "Cook charted and claimed the places he visited in the name of his country, which led to their occupation and colonisation by Great Britain… Although they were inhabited, Cook charted and claimed the places he visited."
Key Facts to Remember
- Cook knew Australia was inhabited: his own journal says "certain sign that the country is inhabited."
- King George III's instructions required consent: Cook was ordered to get native consent if the land was inhabited.
- Cook violated his orders: he claimed the land anyway without consent.
- Cook never used "terra nullius": that legal fiction developed later.
- The lie lasted 222 years: until the Mabo decision in 1992 overturned terra nullius.
- No treaties were ever made: unlike in New Zealand (Treaty of Waitangi, 1840) or North America.
What January 26th Really Marks
This date represents:
- Illegal occupation
- Genocide and massacres
- Dispossession of land
- Dehumanisation
- Ongoing trauma
For First Nations people, it's a day of mourning, not celebration.
Where to From Here?
This isn't about attacking anyone. It's not about making people feel guilty for their heritage or for enjoying a day off. It's about understanding that symbols matter. Dates matter. And when a significant portion of the population, the original inhabitants of this land, are telling us that this date causes them pain, the very least we can do is listen.
Changing the date doesn't erase history. It doesn't diminish what it means to be Australian. It actually strengthens our national identity by showing that we're capable of growth, empathy, and justice.
Use Our Free Guide: 26 Ways & Why’s to Change the Date
To support your conversations, planning, and team reflection, we created a free downloadable guide: 26 Ways & Why’s to Change the Date.
It provides:
- background on 26 January
- culturally safe language
- reflective prompts
- discussion starters
- practical ideas for educators
- historical context
- links to quality resources
- ways to shift practice respectfully
Talking about 26 January will always require courage. It brings up history, identity, belonging, grief, and pride, all at once.
When we listen deeply, reflect accurately, and check our understanding, we create space for complex truths and shared learning. We role-model the kind of communication we want children to experience generous, brave, relational, and open-hearted.
With the guidance in 26 Ways & Why’s to Change the Date, your team can move forward together with integrity and purpose, honouring Country, community, and the children in your care.
True unity requires listening. It requires respect. And it requires a willingness to change.
And let's remember: respecting genocide survivors isn't "woke." It's human.
It's time to change the date.
Sources Referenced:
- Australian Parliament House: Official Parliamentary Library documentation
- Queensland Parliament: Indigenous Suffrage Timeline Factsheet (Factsheet 10.5)
- AFP Fact Check: Comprehensive fact-check on the 1949 citizenship claim
- Professor Amanda Nettelbeck: University of Adelaide, School of Humanities
- Professor Tim Rowse: Western Sydney University, Institute for Culture and Society
- Australian War Memorial: Historical documentation
- National Archives UK: Captain Cook's journals and secret instructions
- Australian Electoral Commission: Indigenous voting rights history
