J Bower: If man were meant to fly, he'd wings. Gills if meant to swim. Right?

As always the no nothing mockers, usually too tired to get up off the ass, to go take a crap.

Or go read a book, Super Fuel, sub titled green energy, or take in a top documentary, from google tech talks. As a credible, peer reviewed and highly rated, "the case for thorium," top documentary.

And contributed to by several highly credentialled highly respected scientists, who at least understand some science!

Laugh as long and as loud as you want J.B! Or just go on channeling Sargent Schultz.

You all have a nice day now y'hear, thanks for the opportunity and mind the splinters, blockhead.
Alan B.

Of course Australia Day should stay where it is. But what gives some Australians the idea that they have to keep educating newcomers, or that newcomers take notice of a small bunch of ratbag Marxists who are the same the world over? Most immigrants come here because of the way it is, not the way few malcontents would like it to be.

Our Commonwealth of Australia commenced on January 1st, 1901.

The official ceremonies began around noon in Centennial Park, Sydney, with Australia's first Governor-General Lord Hopetoun sworn in, followed by our first Prime Minister Sir Edmund Barton, then other Commonwealth ministers taking their oaths of office.

Choice of noon was practical, to ensure all recovered from their 1901 New Years celebrations, so all make it to these afternoon events then celebrations :-)

Switching to events starting at noon on January 1st retains historical significance for Australia, with other benefits.

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//Switching to events starting at noon on January 1st retains historical significance for Australia, with other benefits.//

But it means we lose a public holiday. The people will never go for it.

I heard a good suggestion the other day: shift it to Wattle Day, September 1st - the day is entirely unpolitical and therefore unlikely to upset anybody, and it's a nice time of year to have a public holiday.

Hi Toni Lavis, it is probably a bit sad that part of the debate about Australia Day and alternative dates comes down to a public holiday. However, that is about the extent of thinking by some (or many). As to celebrating Federation Day and having a public holiday then perhaps the 2nd of Jan could be a 'by proxy' public holiday. It would offer the opportunity for a '4 day weekend' and enable people to have an extra day over the xmas/new year period rather than taking a rec leave day.

Of course, the significance of Federation Day may well be lost on many due to that but in essence who'd really care? Another alternate date is the 3rd of March, which signifies when Australia actually became an independent nation due to the dual passing of the Australia Act 1986 in our parliament and in the British parliament. That Act finally severed the official ties to the 'mother country'.

For me the 3rd of March has far more significance than the 26th of January and a public holiday in the first week of March would be most welcome. The weather is still (on the whole) great so bbqs can be held and more awareness could be created about when Australia actually became an independent nation.

//Hi Toni Lavis, it is probably a bit sad that part of the debate about Australia Day and alternative dates comes down to a public holiday.//

I should point out that I'm one of those people who'd be unhappy about losing a public holiday. Work/life balance is important, and so are public holiday penalty rates. Cutting the number of public holidays is a distinctly Liberal idea, and I'm opposed.

//As to celebrating Federation Day and having a public holiday then perhaps the 2nd of Jan could be a 'by proxy' public holiday.//

Nah, that end of the year is already overcrowded with public holidays. September would be good, although your suggestion of a date in March also sounds agreeable. It's good camping weather.