Charles Gutjahr

Melbourne, Australia

Australia Day

26 Jan 2019 — a 1 minute read on opinion

Australia Day will inevitably change to another date. Conservatives don't seem to realise that they have already lost this battle of the culture war.

My friends used to hold Australia Day parties every year, but in recent years they have stopped. The growing understanding we have about how painful 26 January is for Indigenous Australians takes the fun out of partying on that date. 26 January has stopped being Australia Day for many Australians, and if it's not a day for all Australians then is it really Australia Day any more? No, it is not.

Conservatives can have as many parties as they like on 26 January, but when so many of us don't join in then that day is not Australia Day. No words or laws can make it so when Australians don't have their hearts in it.

© 2023 Charles Gutjahr