Australia Day is just around the corner - and every year
the topic comes up for changing the date. And I'm sure
that the same controversy will again arise this year
with demonstrations as usual.

The Prime Minister has said that he has no plans to change
the date. His first priority is the Referendum for The Voice
to Parliament.

I'm curious as to what posters on OLO think? And if they
advocate for change to what date should the day be changed?

My personal feelings are - if we're going to change the date
lets become a Republic first. Otherwise what's the point?
And once that's done - the day we become a Republic would
be an appropriate date to celebrate our "Australia Day."

What are your thoughts?

WTF?

Hello Foxy,

Oh yes it's that time of year again.

When the question about Australia Day comes up I usually grab the pop corn and sit back and watch.

The idea that it might change seems to whip some people into a frenzy.

Oh course we know that for many Indigenous people the day has a completely different meaning.

Discussions around the reasons for that seems to further infuriate some into an apoplectic state.

I think you are right about becoming a republic. When that happens I'm sure the date will change too.

Hi WTF?

We've celebrated January 26th for as long as I can
remember. It was a public holiday
And I never really gave it much thought
to be honest. It's only when the demonstrations
began around the country that attention was drawn
to what the day reflected for the Indigenous people
of this country.

I guess that the controversy of this date will continue
for some time yet.

Of course, changing the facts of History is what Marxist do. That was the day Australia was settled by a modern society of its time. Changing the day will not be acceptable to the protesters, they want to deny the rights of settler's occupation of land. Understand protest signs stating, "Always was and always will be aboriginal land." For these no date of settlement will be recognized.

Hi Foxy,

As an Australian with an affinity for Indigenous people, the observance of 26th January as the day for all Australians to embrace as the national day of nationhood is hypocritical. The day is the anniversary of the British invasion of the occupied continent. 26the January 1788 was the day of the beginning of dispossession and genocide for the First Australians. If that day of British occupation is a cause for celebration for some, then for those survivors of over two centuries of colonialism, which subjected their forebears to the inhumanity of colonisation, there is nothing for them to celebrate today. Maybe they should celebrate the fact they are still here, despite the colonisers best efforts to make it not so!

Not change - cancel!

I don't chew burnt meat and get pissed on Australia Day. I do nothing that I don't do every other day and I am sick and tired of the controversy this particular day causes. I can certainly live without it and the unpleasantness caused, mainly by people who want the date changed purely for political reasons. Change the date.Get rid of it altogether. It doesn't matter for the other 364 days of the year. One day of faux love and loyalty doesn't make up for squabbling and divisions of the other 364.

Given the new divisions and hatred in this country; creeping Socialism and debt caused by a dictatorial political class; a carping, scare-mongering media; overcrowding, homelessness, more interest in the environment than in people, but still wanting more people (30 million of them predicted by 2032) to consume on behalf of Big Business Australia Day is a joke: just an excuse for another day off, in the Land of the Long Weekend. Two extra non-productive days off recently because Christmas Day and New Year fell on a Sunday. Now, they want more public holidays because of the change in population. Yes, that's right: celebration of foreign holidays for the foreigners who didn't want to stay in their own countries and celebrate there. All on tonight's news. What a bloody farce!

Here's a couple of things to consider:

Firstly the 26th of January commemorates the
establishment of the first settlement in the
colony of NSW.

Holding onto January 26th to only celebrate one part
of our country's history and celebrating one of the
darkest periods. A period of slave labour,
oppression, and imperial social strata continuation
is something worth debating and re-considering.

The 26th January does not define Australia today.

Hi Foxy,

If one had to make a choice for 'Australia Day', then 1st January the day of federation seems an obvious choice. I'm not so pissed off with the past history of colonisation, as bad as it was, but what really does piss me off is the failure of truth telling and recognition of the past. How can we move on as a nation if 97% refuse to recognise the inhumanity of the past perpetrated against Aboriginal people. To add insult to injury there are those who want to celebrate the very day colonisation begun. Is it not an exercise in "rubbing their noses in it".

An example; Australia has an excellent War Memorial in Canberra, where we honour the deeds and scarifies, by mostly White Australia, in foreign wars, everything from the Boer War to Afghanistan. There is the one and only war fought on Australian soil which goes unrecognised, a war in which 100,000 Indigenous and 3,000 European Australians perished, I'm referring to the very long, fought over about 140 years, and very painful for Aboriginal people Frontier Wars. There is total refusal by Australia to recognise those wars. There was not the glory of Gallipoli or the heroics of WWII, but a horrific war never the less. Something white Australia still fails to recognise to our shame.

"That was the day Australia was settled by a modern society of its time." Proud Boy you really get to me.

Dear Paul,

I agree - we should have truth telling in our
history. That's why The Voice to Parliament
would help. And yet it's still being knocked back by
some.

I see no harm in changing the date if it will contribute
to this country's history and promote good will.

The whingeing about Australia day comes from a genuine movement.

Movements attract misfits. The desire to change traditions usually corresponds with their personal unhappiness. Mass movements also attract misfits because they take all comers: people who can't make friends or fill in their days are relieved of their problems by being obedient to a cause.

Hi Foxy,

In its day a 'Windows Pensions' of 5/- week (NSW 1926) was opposed by conservative politicians, on the grounds it would make for "loose kept women" and besides NSW couldn't afford it. Seems starving women with children was preferable to having "loose kept women". Praise to Labor's Jack Lang. I'm sure OLO's spats and straw hats brigade still oppose windows pensions for the same reasons. Must ask ttbn and a few others.

p/s After WWI there was an abnormally high number of young widows with children in Australia, (I wonder why) and they had been left to fend for themselves. Jack Lang declared this was not right and in those days the states had a lot more control over things, the Commonwealth was secondary. Lang said he was going to pay a 5/- (50c) weekly pension to women. Before that women had never received any kind of government payment, they were only for men. In 1941 to his credit Bob Menzies introduced child endowment 5/- week for the second and subsequent child only, shock horror it was also paid directly to mothers. In 1942 the Curtain Labor government took over widows pensions from the states, and as a 'temporary" war time measure paid £1.5s ($2.50) to widows, seems there were a lot of widows at the time (I wonder why).

Dear Paul,

Look how far Australia has come. The country has changed.
The Australia of today is made up of all ethnicities
you can imagine. And it will continue to change, evolve,
and grow. January 26th does not define Australia today.

To change the date of Not to Change?

I say - change it!

Dear Paul,

My husband has pointed out that there once was something
called "Bonfire Cracker Night." Apparently it celebrated
things British by having bonfires and the lighting of
fireworks until it was found to be too dangerous. It
stopped around the 1980s. Was that before your time?

A little bit more history:

While other nations like the United States, New Zealand,
Canada, and India negotiated treaties with their
Indigenous people, Australia didn't even bother talking
to them. Until 1967 Indigenous Australians were not even
allowed to be citizens - they were considered as
wildlife.

Did you know that Australia Day is not as old as we may
think it is. Before 1988 Australia Day as we know it
didn't really exist. Most people had the day off with
drunks stumbling down the street. And the flag was only
made the national flag in 1952.

Ever since the White Australia Policy was abolished on
March 24, 1966 the country has become a multi-cultural
success story. Our population now comes from 200
countries from around the world.

Fixing Australia Day to the date the British arrived to
create White Australia is illogical if we're to celebrate
"Australian-ness."

It has no real meaning for the majority of Australian today.

Keeping Australia Day on January 26th only shows Australia's
collective ignorance. It shows Australia is not ready to
come to terms with its history, nor the reality that our
Indigenous people are worse off than almost every other
group in society.

Our Indigenous people have been demanding change since
2000. How much longer will they have to wait?

I see Australia Day as having no useful significance.
We are all taught that the British landed here and established a colony.
Does it really matter what day that was?
All we need to know is that it was about 250 years ago.
And Australia Day is just a holiday for most people?
So do away with it, and all similar 'days', and just have the holidays instead?
A much more logical approach?
And while we are about it, do away with statues and similar 'reminders'.
They are distasteful, vulgar, and almost barbaric sometimes.
They mostly encourage us to remember something unpleasant?

We need to be clear about something else here too.
Nobody in Australia was an adult person a hundred years ago.
We are all effectively newcomers.
And we all have ancestry going back more than fifty thousand years.
We all had ancestors who lived somewhere, and tried to make things better?
They passed on to us the infrastructure and knowledge they had.
I think fairness and sharing and teamwork were essential for their survival.
Probably because of geographic change, one of the groups became very isolated from the rest.
It developed a different way of life, and had a different understanding of it existence?
But surely it is illogical that its descendants can demand extra privilege because of those facts alone?

And nobody owns the world.
If anything, it owns us.
And we live on it. It is our 'space ship'.
We all need a physical area to effect our survival.
A large group will need a large area.
So that group will define boundaries, and defend the area of land it has chosen.
It needs to reap what it sows.
And this group needs to behave as a team.
If it divides in to sub-goups, and each demands different standards, the overall team effort is lost.
Anything which aids such division is to be avoided?
Because the world has not learned to act as a single team, it is fragmented and quarrelsome.
A major weather disaster, of catastrophic proportions, might pull it in to line?

This argument is all a load of rubbish.
The arrival of the First Fleet was the biggest event in 64,000 years.
What can possibly top that !

The arrival of 150 million Chinese on 26th January 2023? Oh! they sunk our subs, as Proud Boy would say, survival of the fittest, dominance of the strong, easy come, easy go, can't have everything.

Why can't we celebrate the best country in the world
without leaving anybody behind?

The day this continent became officially know as Australia should be Australia Day !

Indyvidual,

I agree. And that day will be when Australia becomes
a Republic!

If I remember correctly, I think it was Matthew Flinders who first called it Australia.
I wonder how long it'll be before the proponents of disunity claim the indigenous already had a name for the whole country.

indyvidual,

Here you are:

http://visazone.com.au/name-of-australia/

indyvidual,

Ben Pobjie in his book, "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,"
tells us that:

" When the First Fleet sailed into Sydney Cove in 1788,
it was not Australia to which they thought they had
journeyed. It didn't matter much what they called it,
though the Fleeters considered themselves, British,
and the fact that they were on the other side of the world
would not stop them feeling that way."

" In fact it took some time for the British and their
descendants in Australia to stop thinking of England as
"home." - some say the tendency only really dried out
when Robert Menzies passed away in 1978. Australia - under
any name - was viewed as an outpost of the British
Empire - (and still is by some) beyond the point at which this
perception was literally true or even remotely reasonable."

Time for a change - well and truly!

I have been here over 50 years & I have paid for my being here via taxes & helping indigenous & also being robbed by a very minute minority of them.
The decent ones worked & lived the same as I & many other other decent non-indigenous folk.
The ones lacking good attributes like many other non-indigenous & many non-genuine indigenous did & do for which they greatly desire the prospects the Voice promises them.

indyvidual,

We all live in the hope that tomorrow will be better.
Unfortunately our Indigenous people have been hoping
since way back - and for many of them it has not
happened, yet.

Perhaps tomorrow?

Well, we have those that make up history to suit their political position, to divide a cohesive society and believe the World would be better as a Republic under Socialist Rule.

If Australia was invaded by war, then under Internation conventions at the time means the Victors own the rights to the Land. If it was settled and cohabitated, then a treaty should be established. At the time there were over 250 nations speaking languages and no formal written language. There was no concept of ownership of land and boundaries.
The settlers were supposed to treat the aboriginals with respect, but conflicts arose which led to deaths mostly over food not occupation of land. However, fights to the death happened in tribal conflicts before settlers arrived.

Josephus,

You're absolutely right. The first inhabitants of
Australia of course were the Aboriginal people, who
generations of Australians remember from the one
history class when the teacher mentioned them.

Ben Pobjie in his book - "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,"
totally agrees with your take on things:

" And again you're right when you
point out that they would not have thought of themselves
as Australians. The 250 individual nations that occupied
the continent had yet to gain the wonderful sense of
national unity that white men brought to Australia, along
with other marvellous innovations such as guns, and smallpox.

For many thousands of years, these people lived in total
ignorance of what they were missing out on, not ever knowing
how deprived they were until their European benefactors
cam along to teach and/ or kill them."

So of course as you point out it stands to reason that our
Indigenous people don't deserve a treaty, or truth-telling
of our history, or a Voice in Parliament. They should simply
be grateful and accept whatever we do give them at our
pleasure - as we've done for decades. And see how well that's
worked.

Unfortunately our Indigenous people have been hoping
since way back
Foxy,
There are countless wants the Aborigines are hoping for, what are the most likely achievable you think ?
If on one hand they want us newbies out yet on the other hand they bleat discrimination if they're asked to put in a personal effort then what exactly do think they desire most ?
There are indigenous professionals just as there are professional indigenous & the former will tell you that they worked for what they achieved. The latter have the ABC/SBS to further their cause.

indyvidual,

We all have people furthering our causes don't we?
Be it politicians, the Murdoch Press, or whoever
happens to be the flavour of the month. Most of us
tend to see things from our own perspectives. That's
life.

I see Foxy in a previous post has sunken to sarcasm as a form of attempting to interpret others' opinions.

The fact is we must forgive the past, deal with the present, and live together as one society supporting each other. Some can never move from the past, they want payback, they cannot be forgiving and live in the present. The word "forgiveness" means letting it go. That is what reconciliation means, if payback is the system, then reconciliation will never happen.

I have a friend from New Guinea who cannot return to his homeland as a price is upon his head because one of his cousins murdered a person of an adjoining tribe. One must die to compensate for the other, it turns into a never-ending cycle of payback.

As a Christian society forgiveness allows those offended to reconcile. We must decide if our justice system is "pay back" or "forgiveness". Letting go of past offence is the only viable way of living in reconciliation.

Josephus,

Letting go of the past is what the Voice is attempting to do.
By correcting our mistakes and ensuring that we don't continue
to make them - will make it easier to "let go." We can't ask
people who are still being mistreated today - to "let go."
When nothing is changing for them. This is our opportunity
to correct our country's history in order that we can all let go.

BTW: The book mentioned in my previous post - is a satire.
And I'm not the author. But it's done very well. And gives us
some alternative facts that we can all enjoy.

The benign racists simply applies his own white settler values to a people who had a different set of values, here is the example.

"If Australia was invaded by war, then under Internation conventions at the time means the Victors own the rights to the Land. If it was settled and cohabitated, then a treaty should be established. At the time there were over 250 nations speaking languages and no formal written language. There was no concept of ownership of land and boundaries."

That is the European colonial thinking that fostered the notion of 'terra nullius' all based on a set of Protestant Christian principles/values of industriousness, land ownership, work ethic etc. Aboriginal people had none of what were these alien concepts within their society, but in no way does that negate their right to the land, which was never ceded to the British Crown.

The rest of that paragraph is a poor attempt at mitigation.

Dear Paul,

I think what is being asked by The Voice to Parliament
is such a fair request that I find it difficult to
understand why some people are objecting to it and are
trying to muddy the waters. They obviously don't
understand the simplicity of what's being asked.

We're being given a gift - by our Indigenous people.
We should be gracious enough to take it.

Foxy,

While you might think it's a simple request, most of us including Albozo don't know what the request really means.

Albozo needs to put it in writing as to exactly what he intends. Hand waving and pointing at the Harbour bridge ain't gonna cut it.

Just watched a police officer pulling over an aboriginal person driving an unregistered car also wanted on domestic violence. They refused to obey the police to step out of the car, stating, "you are on our land and your law has no jurisdiction on our land".

These are the people who are behind the "Voice".

Letting go of the past is what the Voice is attempting to do.
Foxy,
Not in another 60,000 years ! Like one leader said on National TV many years ago; "If the Government gave us more money we could be finacnially independent".
The VOICE will turn out to be all about more for less !

Does anyone really give a dam.

Australia day comes from a past time when there was much to be proud of with the Australia & the community we had developed.

There is nothing left of that community today, all overwhelmed by massive imports.

Just let it die.

The Chinese love to celebrate Australia Day, I was in the 'Two Dollar' shop the other day and there was a whole host of Aussie stuff for sale, Aussie thongs, Aussie beer holders, Aussie beach towels so much Aussie. all made in China.

all made in China.
Paul1405,
That's not China's fault ! This plain & simply is the doing of our Unions whose promises induced their members to blindly support demand for more pay than the profit they produce for the employer to enable to pay wages.
Don't even get me started on bureaudroid salaries !
Now, I expect you to come back with another one of your silly quips about pensioners being on Welfare. To become an old age pensioner, pensioners worked for 50+ years on sustainable wages which allowed the employer to employ them. I don't expect a bureaudroid who costs more to keep than what they produce to comprehend that but there you go !

indyvidual,

What job did you have before you retired?

Ask yourself why the Voice activists and those that want to change the date never talk about crime, DV, sexual, drug and alcohol abuse ravaging remote aboriginal communities?

NT senator Jacinta Price does, and she does not believe the "Voice" is the answer or changing date will deal with problems in remote communities. Spend the money for these proposals in remote communities to improve their services.

Josephus,

Wrong again.

By actually giving these communities The Voice
and self-determination - they will be able to better
deal with the problems that affect them rather than
being told by the white man what's best for them. It
hasn't worked thus far with white people making all
the decisions and policies without any consultation.
It is worth trying to give them the self determination
that they are politely asking.

As for Jacinta Price?

The only people she represents is the "luminaries,"
of the Liberal Party. Celebrities on Sky News and in
the Murdoch Press. They all love her. She's their
mouth-piece - not that of the Indigenous people.

What job did you have before you retired?
Foxy,
I worked all my life in tradesman work that provided me with an income, provided my employers with sufficient profit to keep me on, paid top rate tax, literally paid my way by work & by using my wages to pay for what I wanted to buy. Only bought when I had the funds to cover the costs.

rather than
being told by the white man what's best for them

Foxy,
Incorrect ! Idealistic bureaudroids of academic back ground do what you're hinting at. White & men of every complexion who spend time in remote communities, don't do that. They work alongside with the locals trying to teach whatever is needed to live a life with the modern commodities the locals so desire nowadays.

indyvidual,

Yes. That's why there are so many Indigenous kids incarcerated
in their prisons. That's why they get such excellent health,
education, and other provisions. - Right. We get it. All due to
the locals working so nicely with the Indigenous. Oh, and
providing them with alcohol - that always helps - doesn't it?

Foxy,

Jacinta Price represents the aboriginal community as much as anyone else, including Stan Grant. OR do you think that all aboriginals are the same and cannot think for themselves.

shadowminister,

JI think most people can think for themselves.
Jacinta Price and you are the exceptions.

so many Indigenous kids incarcerated
in their prisons.
Foxy,
Totally wrong assessment again. The kids who go off the rails are the ones that the academic social experts didn't allow to be disciplined. Then when the kids got into mischief, the academic social experts again jumped in by way of their idealistic Legal Aid bureaudroids. So, next the kids are by then youngsters who roam the streets at night using their school attendance money to buy liqueur instead of going to bed.
What you say is so utterly & totally off the mark & it's because of do-gooders such as yourself that that Gap will not be bridged as long as you're allowed to vote !

Foxy,

There is very little thinking coming from you, just echoes of labor talking points.

You are being racist in claiming that Jacinta because she is black can only logically follow your party line. In spite of her coming from atraditional background, you don't think she is black enough because she thinks for herself and even worse disagrees with you.

The red nappy wearers are going to be out trampling the dirt and banging sticks together in clouds of smoke on the 25th. Presumably, that will give them some satisfaction.

shadowminister,

Is Jacinta black? Actually I hadn't noticed.
I thought she was brown - because she's so full of it!

If the Voice representatives are full blood living on their cultural lands and maintaining their culture and language then they may have rights to speak, but no! It will be part caste activists claiming links to remote communities, then living in Canberra. They will not represent Australian founding values but overtake the democratic elected voice, to install old world values and laws.

We have activists on here who want reparations for previous history, and they believe the voice will be the fulfilment of the reconciliation. It will be the continuing of conflict as activists get in the ear of remote community's leaders.

Josephus,

Fear has been used as a weapon for so long.

But today most of us don't buy it as a means and excuse
for non-action. And it's time that some realized
that the old outmoded tactics no longer work. But never
mind - these people will be outvoted. Change is inevitable.

these people will be outvoted.
Foxy,
So, what will your plan be ? Start thinking rationally & logically without your rose-coloured glasses ?
I feel for you for you'll be in for one steep learning curve !

indyvidual,

Unfortunately - you won't learn anything
as your posting record thus far on this
forum - shows.

Foxy,

Stan Grant must be full of it too. Only partially aboriginal and having lived in the white community all his life he is not nearly as representative as Jacinta.

As far as changing the date of Australia day, I don't think that the activists will stop there until there is no Australia day.

shadowminister,

You are partially right.

I don't think the the white activists will stop
until there are no Indigenous people.

Foxy,

Now you just sound like you have overdosed.

What alternative could possibly more significant than the day the
First Fleet Arrived in Sydney Cove ?
It was the biggest event in 65,000 years !

What can top that ? The day the first human stepped onto this continent ?
What day was that, or did he get back in his canoe and paddle back to PNG.
Who knows, the next known event of significance was the visits of the Dutch
ships to Western Australia, or visits to the North by traders from
Timor or of Capt Cook in the Endeavour.
All just passing by, but coming to stay and connecting the country to
to the rest of humankind, only the First Fleet !

shadowminister,

I'm not here to massage your ego or any other part of you.

Hi Bazz,

Of course, as might be expected, there are many who share
your opinion that Aboriginal people and their beliefs were
fairly naive and primitive and that it wasn't until the
arrival of white settlers that Aboriginql Australians began
to be civilised and adopt proper religions based on more
sophisticated concepts such as pregnant virgins and snakes
promoting fruit-based diets.

Nevertheless, even without all the benefits and technology and
diseases of European settlements, Australia's Indigenous people
lived fairly contented lives for many thousands of years,
having little contact with the rest of the world and therefore
missing out on much of the wars, genocide, and plagues that
makes history so much fun.

It can fairly be said that Aboriginal Australia had no idea
what it was missing. Some of the major events that the first
Australians never had a chance to enjoy include:

The hundred years war
The sack of Rome
The murder of Thomas Becket
The Black Death
The time Caligula made his horse a senator
Braveheart

So as you rightly point out it can fairly be said that though
the Aboriginal people may have believed themselves to be
having a pretty fun time, they were in danger of becoming
the wallflowers of the modern world, condemned to miss out
on the exciting adventures that the Native Americans had
been having since the white men arrived to give their
humdrum lives a bit of spice.

However, all that changed for them with the First Fleeters.

Today- they should celebrate that day - of course!

(Adapted - from Ben Pobjie's book - "Error Australis.")

Foxy,

Really pushing this noble savage schtick? There was no war between the 250 "nations" it was all hugs, kisses and kumbaya.

There was war and fighting and plenty of it. They might have missed the European wars, but they had plenty of their own.

"There was war and fighting and plenty of it." What, did you pop your head in sometime before 1788 and see all the wars, did you? Or is that what the far right rednecks like to believe. Aboriginals had well defined boundaries with a set of hard and fast protocols concerning intrusions within those boundaries,they may have avoided war, we don't know, so what would you know.

shadowminister,

I'm not pushing anything.

Just stating historical facts.

And lets not forget that the prospect of being sent
to the far end of the world to a strange unknown land
was terrifying. Many convicts began to question why they'd
become convicts in the first place. This is not what we
signed up for, they said in a strident statement. So
of course wars with the natives would have broken out.
British criminals would have been very angry.

The powerful emotions generated by the discovery of their fate
were eloquently expressed in the classic old song - "Botany
Bay." :

"Farewll to old England forever
Farewell to my rum coes as well
Farewell to the well-known Tim Bailey
Who used to teach me how to spell
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-addity
Singing bing-bong-dum-doo-dad-fi-fay
Singing spinkly pom pinkly bom baddity
It's sh**t down in Botany Bay."

Only 4 days left to change the date this year. Better luck next time, although our great leader has indicated that he has no problem with the date as it is.

Hi Foxy,

"The Castle Hill Rebellion or ‘Australia’s Vinegar Hill’ began on 4 March 1804. Rebel leaders – Irishmen Philip Cunningham (a veteran of the 1798 rebellion) and William Johnston – aimed to overtake Parramatta and Port Jackson (Sydney), establish Irish rule and return willing convicts (political prisoners) to Ireland."

A little known fact, more than 230 convicts were hanged in Australia after transportation, 114 persons (officially), the vast majority male, have been hanged here since federation, although many Aboriginals were subjected to summery execution in places like Western Australia until well into 1930's. "The first recorded execution took place in Sydney on 27 February 1788, a month after European settlement, when Thomas Barrett was hanged for stealing food from the public stores."

At the time of federation it was most likely that the death penalty was supported by over 90% of the adult population. The majority of Australians supported the death penalty until the mid 1960's, then popular support began to wane, particularly after the political execution of Ronald Ryan by the Victorian conservative government of Henry Bolte in 1967. It was finally abolished in all states and territories in 1985. Today surveys put death penalty support at no more than 25%. Although Australian's are ambivalent when it comes to the death penalty for Australian's in foreign countries. (particularly for drug trafficking).

Dear Paul,

I wonder how many of us know our own history - apart
from the few basics we've picked up over the years.
Let alone about our Indigenous people. I'm consistently
amazed by some of the stuff that we share on this forum.
But I'm grateful for the knowledge. I intend to try to get
a hold of the book that Poirot recommended recently -
"Sapiens - the history of humankind." I looked it up and
it sounds fascinating. David Fisher is another great source
of knowledge in his postings.

If Foxy is reading the nonsense of Ben Pobjie's book - "Error Australis' is it any wonder, she cannot interpret facts of history, she enjoys fiction. She deliberately misrepresents facts and enjoys sarcasm.

Josephus,

When you actually can prove to us that you
know this country's history you
will be able to be taken seriously. Until then
best you don't express your ignorance about both
our country, its history or books you haven't
read, or people you don't know. So shoo - go away!

Hi Foxy,

Inappropriate literature says Proud Boy Jose', I can see another book burning coming up from Herr Jose', he'll supply the matches, he will also be stocking the bonfire. Don't feel too bad as Ben Pobjie nonsense will be in good company, Charles Darwins rubbish 'Origin of Species' will be in the fire as well, along with a million other copies of inappropriate material.

Prod Boy Jose' hasn't been to a decent book burning since 1933!

Just a question, have you ever noticed how there is an element on the Forum who oppose knowledge. Down on the despised, academics, teachers, those that speak out about injustice etc. They are right about one thing, knowledge is a dangerous instrument when placde in peoples hands, far more powerful than the gun.

There are approx. 800,000 persons who identify as aboriginal in Australia, of those 780,000 live lives equal to the average population and 20,000 prefer to live in remote culture and poverty. Their system of justice is pay-back e.g. a sick aboriginal woman was being cared for by a young aboriginal nurse, the woman died, so the women of the sick woman's tribe murdered the nurse because she died. The woman died of cancer not caused by the nurse but in their mind, someone must pay for her death.

Those that have succeeded in Australian society have moved out of the culture and adopted values of the settler's culture and lifestyle. That payment comes from the discipline of work, not handouts.
Read Garry Jones book on culture.

of those 780,000 live lives equal to the average population and 20,000 prefer to live in remote culture and poverty.
Josephus,
Australians back in the concrete jungle would fall over in amazement if they knew how many indigenous earn way above average wage & live in way above average comfort & life style.
No above average effort required other than learning bureaudroid jargon & line up in the quota queue !
Want proof ? Watch ABC/SBS/NITV & hang around Govt offices. Many, who actually attain good positions by true merit just live, work & behave like everyone else with integrity !

Indyvidual, the problem with ancient aboriginal culture is their sense of justice. This is witnessed if a police officer shoots down a knife wielding aboriginal for them the police officer must die to make it equal justice.

The "Voice" as it represents remote communities will enforce this system of justice into our Courts. It is also seeking reparations for crimes committed by early settlers from this generation and the weak left want to pacify their demands and give in as though we owe them something. Most are equal to the average population and live and enjoy the benefits of Western culture.

Josephus,

I don't know where you get your information from
but it's nonsense you're spouting. Please stop!

Foxy you are brain washed by the ABC and cannot evaluate logical situations.

Josephus,

No. I'm not the one brainwashed. And why
bring up the ABC? I use a variety of sources
including the report presented to parliament which
was approved by 250 Aboriginal communities. Stop
trying to divert my discussion - you've got your
own - get out of mine.

Working on a "holiday" equals time and a half, etc etc.
I will work all public holidays (Australia day, Easter, Anzac etc I must have some reason they upset me) at the extra time and then take the time off at regular payment days.
Where does all of this garbage stop?? Time the PC brigade were told where to go in no uncertain words.

Foxy you are brain washed by the ABC and cannot evaluate logical situations.
Josephus,
Unfortunately that is the only way to view the situation from the evidence before us !

indyvidual,

Glad to hear that you think the evidence is pretty strong.
It is.

Foxy,
Any true indigenous must be shaking their heads at your views !

This information was authored by Peter Lee - it should be taught to all Australians.
'Below is the reason Australia day is celebrated on 26 January
Here are the Facts about Australia Day but don’t expect the media to educate you with these facts as it is not part of their agenda
1. Australia Day does not celebrate the arrival of the first fleet or the invasion of anything
2. Captain Cook did not arrive in Australia on the 26th January. The landing of Captain Cook in Sydney happened on the 28th April 1770 – not on 26th January.
3. The first fleet arrived in Botany Bay on 18th January. The 26th was chosen as Australia Day for a very different and important reason.
The 26th of January is the day Australians received their independence from British Rule. However, Captain Cook’s landing was included in Australian bi-centenary celebrations of 1988 when Sydney-siders decided Captain Cook’s landing should become the focus of the Australia Day commemoration.

Sadly the importance of this date for all Australians has begun to fade and now a generation later, it is all but lost. The media as usual is happy to twist the truth for the sake of controversy.
Captain Cook didn’t land on the 26th January, so changing the date of any celebration of Captain Cook’s landing would not have any impact on Australia Day, but maybe it would clear the way for the truth about Australia Day.
Australians of today abhor what was done under British governance to the Aborigines, the Irish and many other cultures around the world. So after the horrors of WW11, we decided to try and fix it. We became our own people.
On 26th January 1949, the Australian nationality came into existence when the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 was enacted. That was the day we were first called Australians and allowed to travel with passports as Australians and NOT British subjects.
In 1949 therefore, we all became Australian citizens under the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948

Before that special date, all people living in Australia, including Aborigines, were called ‘British Subjects’ and forced to travel on British passports and fight in British wars.
This is why we celebrate Australia Day on the 26th January. This was the day Australians became free to make our own decisions about which wars we would fight and how our citizens would be treated. It was the day we were all declared Australians.
Until this date, Aborigines were not protected by law For the first time since Captain Cook’s landing this new Act gave Aboriginal Australians the full protection of Australian Law.
This is why 26th January is the day new Australians receive their citizenship It is a day which celebrates the implementation of the Nationality of Citizenship Act of 1948 –The Act which gave freedom and protection to the first Australians and gives all Australians,

All Australians old and new, the right to live under the protection of the Australian Law”, united as one nation.
What was achieved that day is something for which all Australians can be proud.
Isn’t it time therefore that all Australians were taught the real reason we celebrate Australia Day on 26th January? In one way or another, we are ALL descendants of Australia ALL OF US. So we should ALL be celebrating and giving thanks for the freedoms, the lifestyles and opportunities that we currently enjoy, thanks to the strengths and battles of our ancestors.'

The media want you to believe January 26 was invasion day, but it is not so, and it currently represents the day all Australians became citizens of Australia instead of British Subjects under the Australia Act January 26, 1949.

http://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/no-this-is-not-the-real-reason-australia-day-is-celebrated-on-january-26/

Josephus,

Australian citizens remain British subjects - like the
citizens of all the countries comprising the British
Commonwealth. So although Australians are recognised
as citizens of their own country - they are still
British subjects. We need to change the date to when
we truly are our own subjects.

Every Australia Day I watch the morning ceremonies
from Canberra with great pride. This year it was
even more moving with the involvement of our
Indigenous people. It showed Australians uniting
together and sharing the best of this country - its
people. The citizenship ceremony was equally moving.

It showed that we are evolving as a nation - and there's
even more to be done. The Voice to Parliament has to go
ahead. It must. If we are to reach One Nation status.
And with enough good will - I am sure that this can be done.
After watching the ceremonies - I feel very positive about
everything. We are one nation. We can achieve a One Nation
status!

The Australian of the Year awards - I can't criticize.
Prof. Calma - is such an excellent choice as the Senior
Australian of the Year. He worked on the co-design project
with Prof. Marcia Langton that was presented to Parliament.

The young Australian of the year - great choice also, as was
the local hero. I'm not familiar with the Australian of the
Year choice - I shall have to do a bit of research. But I've
heard the lady in question has influenced many about health
issues - which surely must be a good thing?

Better choices - than past "Captain's Picks," of knighthoods
and British titles, I dare say. I also noted this year the
ladies wearing more colourful clothes with native designs
and Akubra hats. Very pleasing!

The singing of our National Anthem in two languages
was a welcome change. As were the additions of
Indigenous dancers and music. Also the raising of
the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags
meant a great deal. These extra touches made a big
difference. The only thing I would like changed is
of course our National Anthem - "Advance Australia
Fair," (That has the wrong connotations especially
relating to colour - and our past history). And I would
like to see us having our own flag - when we're no
longer British subjects. I guess that will come with
time and in due course - eventually.

How about March 3 ?

https://www.australiaunwrapped.com/when-did-australia-become-independent/