In the wake of Queen Elizabeth's death last week, the prime minister Anthony Albanese declared a national day of mourning will be held September 22 in recognition of the monarch's passing.
The swift decision from the government to honour the late Queen has criticised by some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Many have drawn attention to the intransigence from successive leaders to heed calls for a similar Day of Mourning which recognises the devastating losses that colonisation, instigated by the same regal office, has caused.
Musician Kaylah Truth is one of those who has for years been vocal in calling for a Day of Mourning, and on the related issue of January 26 celebrations. She said the quick move on the part of the government is hypocritical.
"I can't honestly say that I'm surprised that we've been given a national holiday to have a Day of Mourning for the Queen," she told NITV News.
"But I just find it ironic that... people [can't] understand the importance behind why we're requesting a Day of Mourning, but get why it has been made so swiftly following the Queen's death."
Taking to Twitter, the Meerooni Ngugi woman said the Albanese government's declaration had happened at "the click of a finger", reinforcing a lack of respect for First Nations communities.
"It continues this narrative that Black lives don't matter, which is not a narrative that is nice for us to constantly be reminded of. We deserve that respect," she wrote.
"We see that with Anzac Day already. I don't take away the importance of that for other people, but it would be nice to see that equal energy be returned to us on such a significant day.
"They do have the power to make this change, and they can do it very quickly if it's important to them."
The unexpected public holiday, to be held next week, has also come under fire for the disruptions it will inevitably cause.
However, the prime minister rejected these criticisms, saying everyone should have an opportunity to mourn the Queen "in their own way", and that it was important to stick to convention.
“I think there is something to be said for a prime minister who follows tradition,” he said.
What mob are saying
The government's declaration of a national holiday, combined with the continued public displays of mourning, have inspired a raft of critical responses from Indigenous people and allies, highlighting the issues that have seemingly taken less precedence than Queen Elizabeth's death.
"If we had a public day of mourning for every Aboriginal death in custody there’d be one every single day," wrote Noongar woman and human rights lawyer Roxy Moore.
"That is the legacy of the Queen & her colonies that our people have to live with today, because governments choose to do nothing about it.
Greens NSW senator David Shoebridge emphasised the original Day of Mourning, drawing attention to the length of time official recognition of such a day has taken.
"It was so easy to declare a new public holiday! Imagine how easy it is to change the date/cancel another one," he posted on Twitter.
"First Nations people declared 26 January as a Day of Mourning in 1938. They’re still asking Governments to listen. Surely now it’s time."
