The suggestion to have two 'Australia Days' is absurd. It would simply perpetuate division and further 'othering' of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

And it was an invasion of Aboriginal lands that Jan 26 stands for to many. As long as it remains a (false) national day and so does that symbolism of invasion, massacres, rapes, child theft, land theft, subjugation, cultural genocide and much more.

There are two very relevant and non-controversial dates to change AD to. Jan 1st that represents the formation of a nation or Mar 3rd when Australia became independent of Britain.

The pages of history, once accurately recorded, can never ever be erased. Australia day, [first fleet anchoring in Botany Bay day], has been commemorated by we Australians for over a century! Without causing offense to anyone! Only to be politized by urban activists, with more white blood streaming through their veins than black.

Albeit, all blood is the same color, and the two races only separated by 6 degrees of genetic difference. Some folk (me neither) weren't consulted over the date that celebrates our unity as a diverse nation and hence the problem!

Some folk don't want to be united with those white fellas? Don't want em, their laws and justice? Then don't take anymore of their charity.

I could live with Australia day being renamed, recognition, reconciliation and reunification day. Welcome to country day, replete with a broken spear ceremony and a traditional smoking ceremony.

Many of us have Ancestors on that fleet, or the ones that followed and some indigenous heritage.

As for an official Australia day? It could just as easily be Eddie Mabo's B'Day? If only to get these divisive activists to stop agitating over events concluded, long, long ago!
Alan B.

What will I do on Australia Day.

I'll probably go down the paddock & fly one or 2 of my 1200mm remote controlled foam replicas of WW11 fighter planes. I will probably give fleeting thanks that our fighters were better than theirs, & we won.

I will probably then sit in my air conditioned lounge, wondering how we can defeat these ratbags who want to destroy all our folks fought for, & died for.

I may imagine a competition for next Australia day, to drive as many of these ratbags out of town, & out of the country as possible. No country needs a fifth column like these swine in it's midst.

What arrogance on the part of Senator Di Natale! As he comes come from that small, mendicant state/island of Tasmania, what business of his is it to dictate to the rest of Australia? In any case, as he heads a political party that is renown for its scientific and economics illiteracy, we should not be holding our breath for a rational decision from him about a new date for Australia Day

A great piece of PR gave R. Luigi Di Natale's push for change. Results of a survey were well chosen in favour of change. (Yes, he's an Aussie!)
It was, however, far from an independent survey. It was carried out under the auspices of the Australia Institute, which was founded by Clive Hamilton, a Greens supporter. The person in charge of the survey is Ben Oquist: former advisor to sometime Greens leaders and Senators Bob Brown and Christine Milne.

There is much to criticise about the questions put to respondents in the survey but I think my point about the lack of independence.

You cannot change the date when the first British colonisers landed!