Should the date and manner of observing “Australia Day” be reconsidered?

Mother and daughter with Australian flag at the beach (Getty Images); Inset: Vasee Rajadurai, a former Labor Councillor of Holroyd City Council.

Mother and daughter with Australian flag at the beach (Getty Images); Inset: Vasee Rajadurai, a former Labor Councillor of Holroyd City Council.

Today, we collectively commemorate a public holiday known as 'Australia Day.' However, there is an increasing call to reassess both the date and the method of celebration associated with this occasion. The current date holds historical significance, marking the commencement of European colonisation with the arrival of the British with convicts in 1788, leading to the displacement of indigenous people from their ancestral lands.


In this context, Kulasegaram Sanchayan explores with former local council member Vasee Rajadurai, shedding light on the ongoing discourse surrounding the need for potential changes in the commemoration of Australia Day.




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