We stand alone in marking our national day on a day seen by First Nations and many other Australians as a day of sorrow; a date which commemorates an invasion and the first acts of dispossession.

Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine said that all Australians need to reflect on exactly what we are celebrating.

“It is critical that we all take time to re-evaluate what we want our national day to represent and how we can create a better country, one that all Australians, including First Nations people, are proud to celebrate.

“On 26 January this year one of the things that will occupy my mind, as I reflect on my own family’s experiences since 1788, is how we bring more Australians with us on this journey of reconciliation?

“This process of re-evaluation is already happening, indicated by the large numbers of Australians who will join First Nations people in commemorating our survival and our often brutal shared history.

“Across Australia on 26 January we witness scenes that illustrate what a more united and reconciled Australia might look like as Australians in all their diversity attend Survival Day marches, concerts, festivals, and church services.

“There is a growing mood for change.

Ms Mundine said that as Australians consider these matters, we need to also recognise that important substantive changes are needed to improve the place First Nations people occupy in our society.

“We cannot fully celebrate as a nation while First Australians continue to lag behind other Australians on every social indicator, and when we have so little say in the policies that affect us.

“The Australian Reconciliation Barometer (ARB), survey of public attitudes, shows a growing awareness of the impact colonisation has had on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with 86% of the general community and 89% of First Nations people now supporting Australians learning more about past historical issues which have affected First Nations.”

She said that the 2022 ARB also showed 41% of Australians (a 7% increase since the 2020 ARB), and 63% of First Nations people supported a change of date for Australia Day.

“The coming referendum to establish a constitutionally protected Voice to Parliament, the greater willingness we are seeing from Australians to recognise our history and participate in truth-telling activities and the moves towards developing treaties are all proof of a shift in national sentiment.

“It is increasingly clear that our current national day is unsuitable, and is supported by fewer Australians every year,” she said. On the 26 January this year I urge Australians to work towards a future united Australia, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s ancient history, and cultures are honoured as part of a just and reconciled nation.”