Changing the date of Australia day is more than just a secondary issue for our nation. The week leading up to January 26th, and the week that follows, are essentially the only times of the year when the topic is actually prevalent within Australian news, which is a huge issue – this has led to a lack of understanding – and blatant ignorance – with non-indigenous people in regard to Indigenous Australians culture. The argument most Australians hold for not wanting to change the date is the fact that ‘changing the date won’t change the history behind it’ when that’s not at all the outcome that those who want to change the date are striving for. My name is Shehara Bradley, and I am here to inform you all of how important it is to change the day our nation celebrates Australia day, because change is more than necessary in order for all Australians to move forward. The media often trivialises this and misrepresents the history behind January 26th controlling the narrative that changing the date will ultimately make little to no difference, and therefore positioning their audience to believe the same.
Media outlets often downplay the history that the date of January 26th carries to undermine the importance that changing the date will have on Indigenous Australians. Sky news is an extremely well-known Australian news outlet, infamous for having fat and pompous white men deliver very one-sided
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This is down from 75 percent in 2019 and 69 percent in 2021. Though these percentages may not seem overwhelmingly large, trends have shown an increasing support for changing the date of Australia Day from January 26th, and I think it’s safe to assume that these numbers are only going to decrease.
The fact we celebrate Australia Day each year on this date, January 26, is a glaring example of just how deeply ingrained the casual racism of the nation is towards First