Australia Day Protests: Thousands Rally Against Indigenous Treatment
Protests Across the Country
Tens of thousands of Australians protested over the treatment of Indigenous people on Sunday as the country celebrated a national holiday marking the 1788 arrival of British colonisers. Crowds rallied in Sydney, Melbourne, and other cities, decrying the high incarceration rates, poor health, and historic persecution of the continent’s first inhabitants, whose ancestry stretches back 60,000 years.
Invasion Day vs. Australia Day
For many Australians, January 26 is a day to celebrate with friends and family at beaches and backyard barbecues. However, for rights activists, "Invasion Day" marks a period of oppression of Indigenous peoples, including the dispossession of their lands, massacres, and the removal of children from their families.
Protesters’ Demands
In Melbourne, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets, some brandishing placards proclaiming "Abolish the Date" and "No Pride in Genocide." Protester Andrew Baker told AFP, "When white people came to Australia, black people started dying. Like, why do you choose that day? It’s insane, I don’t understand." Indigenous woman Tammy Miller said, "It’s a day of mourning for me and my mob. It’s about changing the date, but it’s more about making people aware of our injustices that have been since and still ongoing since white man came."
Division Over National Day
In the run-up to Australia Day, vandals poured red paint over a statue in Sydney of British explorer James Cook, toppled a monument in Melbourne to a 19th-century pioneer, and daubed a war memorial in the city with the words: "Land Back." At a citizenship ceremony in Canberra for 24 immigrants, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed "the unique privilege that we have of sharing this oldest continent with the world’s oldest continuous culture."
Support for the Holiday Date
The choice of January 26 as the national day has long divided Australians. A Resolve Strategic survey published Friday in the Sydney Morning Herald indicated support for the holiday date had grown over the past two years from 47 percent to 61 percent. Attitudes appeared to have hardened since a constitutional referendum on Indigenous rights reforms was heavily defeated on October 14, 2023, the paper said.
Indigenous Disparities
An estimated 3.8 percent of Australia’s 26 million people are Indigenous, official data shows. Indigenous people still have a life expectancy eight years shorter than other Australians, higher rates of incarceration, more youth unemployment, and poorer education.
Conclusion
The protests on Australia Day highlight the ongoing struggles and injustices faced by Indigenous Australians. While some celebrate the arrival of British colonisers, others see it as a day of mourning and a reminder of the country’s dark past. It is essential for Australians to acknowledge and address the historical and ongoing disparities faced by Indigenous people.
FAQs
Q: Why do some Australians protest on Australia Day?
A: Some Australians protest on Australia Day to raise awareness about the historical and ongoing injustices faced by Indigenous people, including the dispossession of their lands, massacres, and the removal of children from their families.
Q: What is the significance of January 26 for Indigenous Australians?
A: January 26 marks the arrival of British colonisers in Australia, which led to the dispossession of Indigenous lands, forced assimilation, and the suppression of Indigenous culture.
Q: What are the disparities faced by Indigenous Australians?
A: Indigenous Australians face significant disparities in life expectancy, incarceration rates, youth unemployment, and education compared to non-Indigenous Australians.