11:26 PM EST, Thu January 25, 2018. So why do more than 70 countries in the world still use DST? How proposing an extra day off and more choice makes anyone a "holiday-hating curmudgeon" escapes me. Like Christmas Day, Australia Day is a holiday where most can relax and socialise, and reflect on matters that are of importance to them. The gist of my letter (January9) calling for a re-think of public holidays was that replacing four mandated days off with five extra days of annual leave might just benefit everyone. In this sense, the inability to acknowledge the divisive date of January 26 is proof of that disconnect between Indigenous and some non-Indigenous Australians. Longer school days could result in attention deficit and fatigue, making the extra class time ineffective. Watch: What January 26 means to different Australians. Australia Day: Why we need to change the date There are many things we want to celebrate about Australia, but 26 January doesn't represent an inclusive day for everyone. We've changed the date before - in fact, January 26 has only been a national public holiday since 1994 - and must do so again if we want to achieve a national day that unifies all Australians.. Change Management Pros and Cons. We care about the protection of your data. (This includes) finding a day where we can all feel included and celebrated for what is now a very diverse country that we all call home as Australians.. 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Brendan O'Loughlin of Cook (Letters, January 13) might use one of his proposed extra four public holidays to work on his reading and comprehension skills. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander activist Calma said he felt the conservative Morrison government was rushing to make changes to Australia Day before it likely loses power at a national election due to take place before May. But a group of conservative politicians led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison have pushed back hard, saying they will protect Australia Day and ensure it is respected. Not everyone sees it as a reason to celebrate. Increase in informal votes. A protester waves a flag during an "Invasion Day" rally on Australia Day in Melbourne on January 26, 2018. Australia Day remains unprotected, Liberal Party Senator Dean Smith wrote in The Australian on Thursday. But any other day of the year Ill tie an Australian flag around my neck and Ill run through the streets.. But I celebrate on January 26 with thousands of others for a quite different reason because Australia is a great country to live in. So, should we buckle up for another three decades of wearying debate? But changing the date of Australia Day is something we can do now. Lisa Wilkinsons defence in her defamation case states she is not a lawyer and understood Tens colleagues had fact-checked Brittany Higgins allegations. And as we confront our history, re-write our curriculums, maybe the side of history we chose to honour on our national day changes too. For younger Australians who were taught a more inclusive history at school, or have been educated by music, movies or social media, it looks like this change is already happening. In doing so, he hopes to instil strength, hope, love, family and culture back into their lives and break the cycle. All Rights Reserved. Australia Day debate is exhausting and data tells us it could last another generation, Follow the action from the third Test between India and Australia in Delhi in our live blog, Former government services minister Stuart Robert is being questioned at theRobodebt inquiry, Keep up with the latest ASX and business news. This is not the same as Australia. Nurses and midwives in NSW have been warned against posting on subscription site OnlyFans by the industrys professional complaints body. For many, the answer is no. From the above mentioned pros and cons of nuclear power plants, it should be evident that nuclear energy cannot be a solution to any problem. This is a day most Aussies look forward to: a day off work with friends and family, food, fun, and laughter. But by having that celebration on January 26, we're tying it to British settlement and positioning that invasion (in Reconciliation Australia's words) as "the primary source of Australian identity and pride.". In an effort to attract and retain workers, many businesses are considering making changes to the standard workweek and moving to a 4-day . I agree with Aboriginal elder Robert Isaacs: It [Australia Day] brings the community together, it brings the Australian people together and it celebrates the good this country has provided for everyone. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. In Ms Burneys decade-plus career in politics, shes witnessed a shift in attitude towards January 26 shift, especially in the past five years. They cannot to be excused or mitigated in any way on the grounds of religion, anyone's religion. Every year Australia Day, held on January 26, is the focus of huge controversy and debate. A four day work week isn't a compressed work schedule, but rather reduced hours. The national online poll canvassed the views of 1222 Australians between January 19 and January 22 on their views on changing the Australia Day date, its importance to improving the lives of Indigenous Australians and to what extent they think Indigenous Australians face racism in Australia today. The average bus stop in Europe has a rubbish bin, and for good reason. It was not recognised as a nationally celebrated holiday until 1994, making Australia Day as we know it the same age as Justin Bieber. This means that expats will need a good salary to cover the cost of accommodation. A 4 day work week may seem like a radical idea, but we've gradually reduced the number of hours worked within a typical work week since the late 19th century. "This is the best country in the world no doubt. Pro: Longer Evenings Setting the clocks forward one hour in spring does not create more daylight, but it does change the time (on the clock) the Sun rises and sets. Health Complications 4. In doing so, it ignores more than 60,000 years of pre-colonial history and 230 years of multicultural migration to Australia.. We need our non-Indigenous people to walk with us on this journey of healing and empowerment for our kids. 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We know that truth and honesty is the first form of healing, he says, adding that this must be a joint operation between Indigenous, non-Indigenous Australians and broader society. Abso-bloody-lutely! Warning: This article contains images of Indigenous people who have died. We encourage discussion, meaningful and respectful discussion, of the issues and opportunity for all Australians to become better informed about what the issues are, why (January 26) is offensive to many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, he said. The 26th of January commemorates the establishment of the first settlement in the colony of New South Wales. This is the ideological wrestling over which part of this continent's history is more important: the 65,000 years before 1788, or the 240 that have followed. There are 364 other days to wear a black armband. Still, there is a strong contingent of Australians who do not agree. January 26 represents where it all started to change for our people for the worst, the beginning of intergenerational pain and suffering for our people, says proud Butchulla and Gawara saltwater man, Isaiah Dawe. Useful Byproducts 3. January 26 is Australia Day our Australia Day. Why do I not see them upset by the injustices committed by Aboriginal people against other Aboriginal people today? All times AEDT (GMT +11). It is usual for national flags to change from time to time as a nation evolves. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Now she believes she's being penalised, Australia looks to press home its advantage with the bat on day two against India, ADF aircraft, personnel to assist evacuation of hundreds from flooded NT remote communities, Toyah Cordingley's accused killer touches down in Cairns to face murder charges, 'Weight of the dead on my shoulders': Academic breaks down at gay hate deaths inquiry, Outside her tent, next to a popular city walking track, homeless Tasha is past caring what people think. If you have more than $5,000 worth of debt in Australia and your creditors are unable to make payments, then they can force you into bankruptcy. There's a lot of polling done on attitudes towards Australia Day, and the results vary depending on whose views are being canvassed. The latest version of the British flag dates from 1801, that of Canada 1965, South Africa 1994, France 1848, Israel 1948, Japan 1854, Spain 1936 and USA 1960. Through extensive research, it seems that the argument in favour of a bill of rights is significantly more convincing. Their strategy is to engineer and profit from hostility between Muslims and non-Muslims and between different sects of Islam. The hordes of Canberrans who were finally able to use public transport in Canberra at night using the ever-stingy ACTION buses were, according to Territory and Municipal Services Minister Shane Rattenbury, "well-behaved". Tom Calma, co-chair of the advocacy group Reconciliation Australia, said there needed to be more education for people to understand why the date should be changed. Table of Contents hide. This is the best country in the world no doubt, but I cant separate January 26 from the fact that my brothers are more likely to go to jail than they are to go to school, or that my little sisters and my mum are more likely to be beaten and raped than anyone elses sisters and mum, she said on morning TV. Remittances are common in nations that invite immigrants. They treasure it and use the anniversary to mark it, as do their children. Many Australians Think the Day Should Be Changed Even though many Australians are apathetic about the date that Australia Day should be held ( 56% polled said they didn't care about it), other Australians, including Aboriginals want the date changed. But conservative politicians refused to be deterred, even raising the possibility of passing legislation to set the date as January 26 to hamper any future attempts to change it. We must not any longer shut our eyes to the consequences of our being on earth. It only began to be a national public holiday in 1994 - making it a mere 27-year-old tradition. Certainly the sustained British presence on this continent eventually produced the liberal democracy, private enterprise priority, independent judicial system we now prize. Coming from someone who lived with this schedule for 12 years, here are some pros and cons to consider when it comes to the four-day school week The Cons Since an entire day is cut off the week, that extra time needs to be made up during the remaining four days. January 26 is not a day for celebration thats why news.com.au is campaigning to change the date of Australia Day, so we can celebrate the best country in the world, without leaving anyone behind. Our human rights are also . Access unlimited news content and The Canberra Times app. People have to inform themselves about politics. People at bus stops smoke, they eat candy bars, they drink coffee or soft drinks, in short: they do things that generate rubbish. Some students, even as old as eighth-graders, suffer from post-lunch attention deficit syndrome and . Christianity's history of brutality, conducted in the name of a man of peace, is longer than and as nasty as Islam's but this is never mentioned. By changing the date, Australia can show that it is ready to truly accept and include Indigenous histories, cultures and contributions as a valued part of the Australian story. If you are single and renting a shared, private accommodation you will receive a higher rate of rent assistance when compared to the Age Pension. Pros: great fresh food; relaxed lifestyle; climates to suit your preference depending on where you live; decent standard of living for almost anyone with a job when compared to say the US. On average, annual vet expenses alone are estimated to cost close to $400 for dogs and around $270 for cats - and that's before you factor in medications, surgery and emergency treatment. Am I the only one who believes our politicians now see, us the electorate, as the enemy? The downsides of going cashless include less privacy, greater exposure to hacking, technological dependency . Whereas all the other cities in Australia are extending and thriving on their night-time public transport services, you are economising. Send to their inbox. The Argument: Australia should have a Bill or Charter of Rights. It has always been thus. Lecturer, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University. However, I question the motives and sincerity of those claiming to be upset because of injustices committed in the past by what boils down to what one set of my ancestors did to another set of my ancestors. You may see it as tokenism, but to many, it's a signal of that understanding, of a willingness to move forward together as a unified country. Why not nationalise super and create a sovereign wealth fund? But does she really think for one minute that this would be the nation it is today had it not been for the arrival of the First Fleet and the subsequent development of this land as a great democracy in the British tradition? It would make more sense to celebrate it on the 9th of November-Delta Goodrem's birthday. There too, the debate has been playing out for decades, with the social dial slowly shifting. Donkey votes. Cons of living in Australia. Almost 100 suburbs and each with a soul! In the United States, there's been a number of states who have ditched Columbus Day in favour of Indigenous People's Day. Your digital subscription includes access to content from all our websites in your region. That's how most Australian's, celebrate the day, if they celebrate it at al Continue Reading Matt Jennings Former Youth Basketball Coach Updated 6 mo Promoted As a self-proclaimed realist, federal opposition spokeswoman for Human Services Linda Burney, doesnt believe Australia Day will be changed from January 26. The 'forgotten people': When death came to the Torres Strait. I've written about that date before, its origins and forgotten stories and recent almost-comical attempts to protect a public holiday. My opinion, yes it should be changed. "When those 12 ships turned up in Sydney all those years ago, it wasn't a particularly flash day for the people on those vessels," he said. Few former British colonies celebrate their national day on the actual day of colonization. Arthur Phillip arrived at Sydney Cove and raised the national flag of the United Kingdom on January 26, 1788. The singer couldnt resist breaking into laughter after two Aussie fans roped him into an elaborate tale with a NSFW punchline. They treasure it and use the anniversary to mark it, as do their children. It was only in 1994 that January 26 became a national public holiday to be named Australia Day. THERES no doubt the First Fleet brought the worst elements of the British Empire to Australia. Consequences of success. Australia has its downsides, too, and more than just some truly terrifying wildlife. Today many Australians celebrate Christmas for other reasons: family; end of another hard year; food and drink; and summer holidays. Daylight Saving Time (DST) has been used for more than 100 years. In doing so, he founded the colony of New South Wales and, at the same time, commenced the dispossession and marginalization of Indigenous people. Too many people forget that a tent is not a wall. K-12. Though traditionally it had religious significance (and still does for some), for many people there is no religious meaning. Essentially, terrorist shooters and bombers are willing to be killed because their religions tell them that if they do the right thing then there is a wonderful life awaiting them after death analogous to the wishful thinking of cargo cultists. Why was Daylight Savings Time created, who invented it, and what is the point of having a time change every year? Your decision last year to cut back on route timetables, notably throwing out more than two hours of the Route 4 itinerary, from 11.10pm to the now feeble 9.05pm was, and still is, a total farce and you should be ashamed of your presumption. Insert. Since Australia is an independent, democratic country, they assert that Australians should be able to vote who will symbolize them. For starters, if public servants are to be restricted to around 1.5per cent salary increases, is it fair to assume that the Remuneration Tribunal will follow suit with salaries of our political masters and not fiddle with allowances to muddy the waters? But how will protesting about the date and Australia Day help those Aboriginal people most in need? That will take policy designed in concert with Indigenous communities and leaders, representation in places that matter, understanding of past wrongs, and likely several decades. A proud member of the Wiradjuri nation, she says that Australia is still coming to terms with its past. 1. The rule of law, equality of the sexes, scientific curiosity, technological progress, responsible government plus the constant self-criticism and lust for improvement that makes us so self-conscious of our collective failings towards Aboriginal people all date from then; and may not have been present to anything like the same extent had the settlers fanning out from Sydney Cove been other than British. We should acknowledge this and celebrate what a great country Australia is and work together to make it even better. Most of them have been read as 'implied rights' by the High Court. In the process the ALP the Greens chief political competitor has to respond to its own supporters who are sympathetic to the change argument and the backing from indigenous figures. 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