I am annoyed with Rudd, to say "no" to changing Australia Day. I thought it was a day to take pride in being Australian for ALL Australians, obviously not. I thought saying sorry was to reconcile with the indigenous people of this country and move forward as ONE, gee there is talk but no action. Does he realise Australia Day is celebrating a genocide and a day of mourning for the descendants who did actually survive? Yeah he knows, but does he care? No and its ignorance and people wonder why Aboriginal/Torres Strait people still have problems today - typical (that's Australian) you don’t see the Jewish people celebrating Hitler Day - but would there ever be??

Leigh - Just because the original inhabitants of this continent didn't build permanent buildings or domesticate cows that doesn't mean they didn't have a rich culture or civilisation. There is more to civilisation than chopping it down, digging it up or shooting it ie the continent isn't a quarry and white Australians need to learn sustainably with their landscape.

I am quite keen to keep a public holiday for Australia Day but even though some ancestors arrived with the First Fleet, 26th January is New South Wales establishment day a cause for celebration for New South Welshmen not the other 70% of Australians who live in other states.

This debate is great fun, but there is one thing that I just cannot understand. Many indigenous groups like to refer to the 26th of January as Invasion Day. The problem as I see it, is that if it is Invasion Day, doesn't that make them the defeated enemy? How inclusive is that?

As far a a republic is concerned, until those wanting change address the concerns of the majority who voted NO at the referendum, the result at the next one will be the same. How many realise that many Australians like the current system where all Federal parliamentarians, including all the committed republicans, at the start of each session, must swear or affirm that they will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty? The voters are then able to make a judgement, as to whether the politicians are being truthful, honest and sincere, or whether they are lying in their teeth. Fortunately the requirement to make this oath is prescribed in Section 42 of the Constitution, and can only be removed by referendum.

I have for many years advocated that the only way a Republic will be achieved is by compromise, and the one I advocate is to include citizen initiated referendum at the same time. This would allow the people, voting in a referendum, to enact laws in the teeth of the opposition of the entire political and legal establishment. To ensure its correct interpretation, such a referendum might need to replace all the current High Court justices with a nominated panel. As the chances of anything like this being enacted are next to zero, I think a Republic is a very far off.

The best comment, by the way, on the republic was, in my opinion, given in 1993 by a Broken Hill miner in the early stages of the debate when Keating was PM and Hewson Opposition leader. He said:

"I would have to vote NO. What an opportunity to stick it up Keating, without having to elect Hewson!"

Good article, Andrew Bartlett. I agree with Banjo Paterson that the most appropriate date for a new Australia Day will be the day that we eventually declare ourselves a republic.

wubble you: << Well, some one had to be the first here. >>

Somebody was, and it was the ancestors of our Aboriginal people, which is one reason why they aren't too happy about the current date. This is a conversation that Australians do need to have, although comments like those from wubble you and Leigh demonstrate Bartlett's point that it's unlikely to be a mature one - at least from some ignorant and/or bigoted Australians.

Leigh "So, any calls for a change in the date are absolute nonsense. "

Absolutely Agree....

I see the usual malcontents continue their absurd (and electorally margional) demands for their version of political correctness and disproportionate representation for those who claim to be "aboriginal".

So all we need to do is put it to a referendum and see who wins (again).

Then we can all decide if 26th January is a better date than the Queens Birthday (which is something not in the "British" holiday calendar) or Christmas Day.....

Of course, regardless the date the government decrees, it does not stop every real Australian, who values their ex-colonial heritage and institutions, from following that Aussie tradition of simply throwing a sicky and taking the day to celebrate what matters to them, instead of being brow beaten by a bunch of apologists into changing to the politically correct date.

And since I am self employed, it is me who says when I holiday.

So rest assured, anyone else, so inclined, is welcome to come around to my place for a snag and a cold one.

I might even burn an Andrew Bartlett effigy (providing its not "a day of total fire ban" - in which case we could drown it), just to set the mood.

I agree with Andrew Bartlett . Few , if any , white Australians [ I am one ] have any emotional attachment to 26 January . Most of those who object to changing the date are reacting negatively to Mick Dodson's comments , because they react negatively to any proposal made by an indigenous Australian . Others are following the old " ain 't broke , don't fix it " mantra . The best alternative date is the date when the Republic comes into effect .