The Australia Day Debate
In Australia, more athletes than ever before are throwing their support behind the growing movement to change the date of Australia Day from 26 January.
Why is the date so controversial and hurtful to many?
Australia Day is celebrated on a day that marks the beginning of British colonisation. This is a day of sadness and mourning for many, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The first Aboriginal Day of Mourning was held on 26 January 1938. Also known as Survival Day and Invasion Day, the arrival of the First Fleet marks the beginning of the dispossession of their land, violence, stolen children, massacres and genocide. And the effects endure to this day.
Three ways that sport is amplifying the call for change.
Many national sporting bodies, clubs and athletes are adding their voice to the groundswell of calls to celebrate our country together, on a day that can be celebrated by all.
Here are three highlights from recent years, catalysed in part by Cricket Australia dropping the ‘Australia Day’ term.
1. 2020 | Cricket Australia drops ‘Australia Day’ from Big Bash League promotions.
In 2020, Cricket Australia stood its ground in not referring to January 26 as ‘Australia Day’ in its Big Bash League promotions.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was swift to criticise. “When those 12 ships turned up in Sydney, all those years ago, it wasn't a particularly flash day for the people on those vessels either,” said Morrison. He encouraged Cricket Australia to stick to sport.
Morrison faced widespread criticism – including from Olympic legend Cathy Freeman.
“You can’t compare the experiences of those 12 ships that first arrived to this country to what their arrival meant for all generations of Australia’s First Nations people!”
— Cathy Freeman
2. 2021 | Wallabies great David Pocock calls on young athletes to speak up.
Former Wallabies star David Pocock went on to share an important message with young people.
“If you’re a young or aspiring athlete: here in Australia we hear a lot of talk – often from our Prime Ministers – that sport and politics shouldn’t mix,” Pocock wrote on Twitter.
“That’s just not true and politicians know it – that’s why they use sport for their own political agenda.” Pocock conveyed this through a series of photographs of the PM.
“Australia even uses it for diplomacy. You have as much right as anyone to be part of the conversation, many issues at hand will affect your life and future more than the politicians making the decisions.”
3. 2021 | AFL clubs express hope for a date change.
In 2021 past and present footballers from the AFL and AFLW spoke out on Australia Day. Essendon and North Melbourne clubs and a group of St Kilda’s AFLW players called for the date to be changed, while The Saints, Richmond and Western Bulldogs acknowledged the Indigenous community.
“We at Essendon Football Club acknowledge that today is a day of sadness and pain for Indigenous people… We look forward to a time when all Australians can enjoy a day of national celebration together.”
— Club Statement
