In the Herald Sun, Andrew Bolt’s article ‘Seven Sins of the Change Australia Day Movement’, posted in the 27th of January 2017, asserts the negative and “sin” like properties of changing the date of Australia Day. The “change the Australia Day movement” has ignited a vehement debate that has divided Australians for years, and will most likely continue to. The procedural format clearly and concisely retorts that changing the date will not “heal wounds” and we, as a county, should be instead focused on fixing the issues within the indigenous culture. Bolt ignites the debate very early in his article by affirming that changing the date inevitably “solves nothing”. A strong authoritative tone is taken in the first argument when Bolt uses an
After 10 long years Torres Strait Islander Eddie ‘Koiki’ Mabo has lead indigenous Australians to a victory over the Queensland government. This win this case is a historical moment, as of yesterday, the indigenous Australians have been recognised as the owners of Murray Island. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are known to have resided in Australia, 40,000 to 60,000 years before the British arrived in 1788. When the British took over they decided to take all the land for themselves even though the indigenous Australians were here first. This court case recognises indigenous Australians unique connection to the land and acknowledges that they have the rights to the land.
In Ben Robert-Smith’s opinion piece published in the Herald Sun on the 16th of January, 2017 “We Are One but We Are Many”, Robert- Smith addresses he Addresses the Australian public with the argument that is changing the date of Australia day from January 26th. He argues that the date should remain the same but should be undertaken in a manner that is “inclusive and respectful” of other Australian’s interpretation of the day. Comparatively, in Kevin V. Russell’s Letter to the Editor he presents the argument from an alternate perspective.
This affects contemporary issues because it was only in 1992 with Australia’s “Mabo” case that Indigenous
The Australian public now commemorate the sacrifice made for them by having ANZAC day every year. Today we commemorate the sacrifice by tending to their graves on foreign shores there are prayers said and wreaths laid on ANZAC day when we remember their sacrifice. There are walks across ANZAC cove with memorial scattered throughout. Though we commemorate Gallipoli more than the western front this is unjust to the 10’s of thousands of men who died on the western front as some of Australia’s most respected battles were fought on the western front
In recent years, the issue of Australia Day marking the ‘invasion’ of ‘white man’ has sparked controversy between the Indigenous and non-indigenous populations of Australia. In his article titled “January 26th is the birth of modern Australia – deal with it”, Peter Moore advocates that the date of Australia Day should not be changed and he provides humour and solidarity for those who share his perspective. He does this through heavy use of attacks and generalisations with an informal, aggressive tone. Conversely, Natalie Cromb, with her article titled ‘Australia Day/ Invasion Day debate: #ChangeTheDate – but not right now”, criticizes the idea of the date changing at present time as she attempts to rally supportive readers to stand up to the
Liddle expresses that the need to hold a survey itself displays the radio station’s lack of support for the Aboriginal community and informs the audience that “60% of the people who responded to the Triple J survey supported a change of date for the countdown”, suggesting “… as far as younger generations are concerned society is becoming more aware”, however juxtaposes this with Triple J’s inadequacy and disappointment at the fact that “there’s still a way to go before the message permeates its ranks”. The audience is able to view the prevalent support throughout Australia as a nation with Liddle’s use of statistical information, regarding the change of date and how this smaller issue supports the move of changing the date of Australia Day as a whole. Likewise, Liddle positions the individual who linger around the issue and remain unaware and unsupportive, as the minority as “now being majority support for a date change”. This furthermore conveys criticism of Triple J, “who do not mention that the major reason 26 January has become contentious is due to what the date means to Indigenous groups”, however in order to escape adopting a supportive stance, provide an excuse of “new programming”. The author continues to expose Triple J’s motives to the readers who have been misinformed and displaying their lack of acknowledgement as to what this day means to the Aboriginals, insinuating that fact that it was purely implemented as a commercial change.
The speech was made as the prime minister had some concerns about the daily challenges that the Indigenous people had to tackle. It was made to capture the harsh truths about Australian history, and to use them as a beginning for building trust in the government’s motives among Indigenous Australians. The speech was created not only to help those Indigenous to help the civil rights movement but also to challenge what it would be like if those average white Australians experienced such injustices. It had been an historical event because it was the first time an Australian Prime minister had widely spoken about Indigenous discriminations that they have or had been experiencing. “Recognition that it was we who did the dispossessing.
Scott Sawyer’s opinion piece published in the Gladstone Observer on the 25th of January 2014, employs an informal tone to argue against the unnecessary racism often exhibited on Australia Day. The piece follows a train of thought as it transitions from an impartial positive tone to stern and disgusted. The article “Ditch the racism and enjoy Australia Day as it should be” states it’s contention in it’s title, clearly and concisely, continuing on to position the Australian population to agree to it’s contention using rhetorical questions, emotive and inclusive language and appeal to patriotism. The article displays a cartoon image of a cave man looking puzzled at a stone wheel, contemplating its existence and use. The image acts as a metaphor
Speeches made within the past are still relevant to today’s society as the issues they have faced are significant to the values of the present. The statement: "Any significant and valued speech is able to transcend its immediate context", is exemplified within Paul Keating 's Redfern Address (1992) and Noel Pearson 's An Australian History for Us All (1996). Within these speeches, the themes of taking responsibility for actions and the importance of reconciliation resonate as they have influenced change in present-day Australia through new laws and forming the basis of Australian society. Conducted in a predominantly Aboriginal community, the former Prime Minister of Australia, Paul Keating addresses a controversial topic in celebration of
Regrettably, the impacts of colonisation have had detrimental effects on the Indigenous cultures remaining within Australia, being effected largely by media stereotypes and false accusations. Understandably, a mistrust for the government has developed throughout generations within Aboriginal communities, as years of slavery, pain, grief, depression and sorrow were caused by the Australian
Change the date of Australia Day issue – Language Analysis Controversy surrounds the issue of whether Australia Day’s date should be changed to a day with historical value that also includes Indigenous people. As Australia day is on the 26th of January, it is associated with the day that Captain Cook landed in 1788, which to those of Indigenous origin, can be known as Invasion Day. Two articles published on the 26th of January 2017, with opposing views ‘January 26th is the birth of modern Australia – deal with it’ written by Peter Moore and ‘Australia Day/Invasion Day debate: #ChangeTheDate – But not right now’ by Natalie Cromb, express their views on the date of Australia Day potentially being changed. In Peter Moore’s opinion piece, published
Australia Day is one of the most unique national day’s in the world throughout history, celebrating the day of when our ancestors first arrived on the borders of Australia, in 1788. Rather than unite people as one whole though, the spirited outcome of this event isn’t what as anticipated by everyone and has divided the Australian society for good. And so it should be held at an alternative date, where Australian citizens feel worthy of their identity and not cheated by it. However, the celebration shouldn’t be adapted to like that of other commemorations like ANZAC day. Essentially, this day will always be a tragic memory for the indigenous and be viewed as the invasion of their homeland.
This article discusses the speech given by an Indigenous journalist, Stan Grant who participated in a debate where he spoke for the motion “Racism is destroying the Australian Dream’’. Hence, the main points of this article are mostly evidence given by Grant in his debate to support his idea that the Australian Dream is indeed rooted in racism. One of the main points is that the indigenous Australians are often excluded and disregarded as non-Australians simply due to their race and skin colour. Grant pointed out the incident where AFL player Adam Goodes was publicly jeered and told that he did not belong to his country as he was not an Australian despite the fact that Australia indeed is the land of his ancestors.
Recently the highly contended date of Australia Day has been garnering much media attention after the town of Fremantle was the first in Australia to officially call off the celebrations that occur annually on the 26th of January. With heated debate both condemning, and supporting, this controversial move, public scrutiny of the date of Australia day has never been higher. Supporters of the move argue that having Australia day on a date associated with genocide and murder is insulting to all Australians, and prevents people from joining in on the festivities. Others condemn the move, arguing that the 26th of January is the traditional date of Australia Day and that it is merely a patriotic celebration for our home land.
