January 26th 2025

[Roobs321]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Australian flag anywhere voluntarily in my home growing up. It isn’t an aesthetic people culturally care about. Nice to see on an official occasion, where it has its place and meaning, but it isn’t relevant, just a symbol by default. The flag itself is too boring to crossover beyond the chronic patriotic

But we do need a National day of sorts. One with less demeaning colonial connotations would help.

I recall my parents street decided to do a street party thing every Australia Day. Meet all the neighbours shindig. Not uncommon for people around the world to do this on a summer day of commemoration.

 

[peetoo]

It was significant to those who wanted to see Australia as a British colony, but don’t forget the day was held in July and August in the 1910s and 20s until the influence of NSW pushed the day to Jan 26 in commemoration of their founding. And the 1994 public holiday change.

But I’m more interested in how society viewed the day up until some years ago. My parent’s generation have told me in the 70s and 80s it was always the “January Long Weekend” and it was only after the bicentennial and Howard that the nationalistic flag waving started.



Yeah these guys were racist pricks who were the impetus behind the White Australia Policy:

Australian Natives' Association - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Basically a more polite version of the KKK. If you use them in your argument to keep the national holiday on Jan 26 then you lose

From wiki on Australian natives association. Found this interesting. assume they didn’t regard british as ‘foreign’

Views on racial bigotry and Nazism
edit
The ANA, although expressing a devout conviction for the return of the White Australia policy due to concerns for the "social impacts" of immigration,[33] has stated that "all men (even aliens) should be treated with basic dignity unless they have proven themselves worthy of something less".[34] The Association has publicly opposed the "fetishisation" and "copying" of what it considers foreign ideologies, such as Neo-Nazism:[35]
Those who carbon-copy foreign symbolism, ideology and fetishize foreign personalities above those of our own venerable history have ceased to be Nationalists. Well-intentioned racialists who have transcended nationality and ethnicity which sees a stronger connection to the Ku Klux Klan or Hitler's Third Reich than to Australia cannot be reconciled with an Australian-centric worldview. They, like many others are a product of globalisation.

 

[schneebly111]

Red, white & blue are dated imperial colours for monarchist dorks

Yeah - why don’t we see Green and Gold as the dominant colour on Australia Day if it’s all about “Australian patriotism” then?

We see the Union Jack at night because the supporters of the day at heart want to see this land as an Anglo/British country. That’s it.

 

[Saint]

The nationalism of Australia Day is dying a rightful death. Any defence of it sounds stupid.

But the ALP would be wise not to wade in, or else they'll give something else pointless and stupid for the conservatives to make a big deal out of and then accuse the ALP of not caring about important issues.

The ALP should just let the people kill it.

The only decent way of moving it would be to sign a treaty on Jan 27th and move it to then. But that's too much effort and very fraught to the point of not being worth it. The biggest hurdle being: Who the hell countersigns it?

 

[kalex6251]

herald $cum banging on about a 'new poll' saying true blue aussies have a had a gut full of australia day bashing

seriously, who writes this cr@p ..... or have newscorp simply dialled up the internal AI bot* to a patriotic 11?

* rita panahi

 

[Gavin Excell]

Under the 83-96 Labor government I think we were moving towards a truly Australian culture with uniquely Australian symbolism.

Remember - the anthem was only changed with the Hawke government in 1984. The Australia Act severing UK legal and parliamentary control over Australia in 1986. The first talk of a new flag started then too, and a push for Republicanism. I think had Keating been able to remain for a few terms more he would’ve succeeded with a Republic, new flag and then a new national day because he wanted a uniquely Australian identity moulded by our contemporary outlook and position in Asia.

It was Howard who brought back the “Australia is just the nation of British people on this land ever loyal to the crown”.



Yeah having travelled extensively Australians certainly show their flags less - because it looks f**king stupid with a foreign flag occupying 25% of it.

I think that period mid 80s when Australian nationalism was at its peak was probably the window for the Republican movement

I thinks it's gone now - there doesn't seem to be a sense in the community of pushing for it at the moment

 

[peetoo]

herald $cum banging on about a 'new poll' saying true blue aussies have a had a gut full of australia day bashing

seriously, who writes this cr@p ..... or have newscorp simply dialled up the internal AI bot* to a patriotic 11?

* rita panahi

It was the coalition going on about it before christMas this year

 

[schneebly111]

herald $cum banging on about a 'new poll' saying true blue aussies have a had a gut full of australia day bashing

seriously, who writes this cr@p ..... or have newscorp simply dialled up the internal AI bot* to a patriotic 11?

* rita panahi

It was an IPA sponsored poll. So about as relevant as the dump I took this morning.

If you word the question correctly you can get any response you want. I prefer the poll taken in 2021 that showed only 20% of people actually planned to ‘celebrate’ Australia on the day rather than treat it as just another day off. And even then that number is far too high. 1 out of 5 people in my average middle class Australian suburb are not doing anything “Aussie” on “Australia” day.

Look beyond the poll numbers where people who don’t usually give a thought to the issue are forced to give an answer on something they don’t care about too much. Look at the actual amount of people ‘celebrating Australia’ on the 26th. Be careful because this year I bet the Murdoch papers and Sky will create a narrative that people are “back celebrating Australia in full force” and their papers will be littered with every picture they can find of anyone decked out in flag gear on the day.

Ignore that, go down to your local parks and beaches and see for yourself the amount of people actually wearing flag gear and specifically ‘celebrating’ the day. My guess is, just as the last few years, it’ll be almost none.

 

[peetoo]

Really it’s the right fuelling Australia Day 2025 culture wars.

I see a key promise of Duttons is to ‘end the culture wars’

Is this ‘OK make me PM and it try hard to resist being a racist’?


Or “I’m going to end culture wars, bring Australians together, and in case you’ve forgotten the culture war content, I’ll list them again for you now”

 

[schneebly111]

I see a key promise of Duttons is to ‘end the culture wars’

Culture wars have existed since politics have existed. The first Act of the Australian parliament over 100 years ago was a culture war (the White Australia Policy). In the late 1800s the culture war over women’s right to vote was raging with full force (those against at the time said it would lead to the eradication of society)

Culture wars have existed as long as culture has existed. They will continue as long as culture exists.

 

[blueboy25]

Really it’s the right fuelling Australia Day 2025 culture wars.

I see a key promise of Duttons is to ‘end the culture wars’

Is this ‘OK make me PM and it try hard to resist being a racist’?

Dutton asked Gina about whether to change the date and she said no, so that's now his position on the matter

 

[Rob R]

The nationalism of Australia Day is dying a rightful death. Any defence of it sounds stupid.

But the ALP would be wise not to wade in, or else they'll give something else pointless and stupid for the conservatives to make a big deal out of and then accuse the ALP of not caring about important issues.

The ALP should just let the people kill it.

The only decent way of moving it would be to sign a treaty on Jan 27th and move it to then. But that's too much effort and very fraught to the point of not being worth it. The biggest hurdle being: Who the hell countersigns it?

Biggest hurdle is the treaty should have to go to a referendum since it is a critical.document that relates to how Australia manages its past. If it doesn't then the election after will be a nasty one with the treaty torn up if Libs win.

On SM-A136B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Rob R]

herald $cum banging on about a 'new poll' saying true blue aussies have a had a gut full of australia day bashing

seriously, who writes this cr@p ..... or have newscorp simply dialled up the internal AI bot* to a patriotic 11?

* rita panahi

IPA crap, any survey can be made to give you the answer you want if you set it up properly.

On SM-A136B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Rob R]

I think that period mid 80s when Australian nationalism was at its peak was probably the window for the Republican movement

I thinks it's gone now - there doesn't seem to be a sense in the community of pushing for it at the moment

Republicans couldn't agree how it should be set up and now Australains with good reason hate pollies. In reality given all the other issues, health, environment, security etc noone has the government system as a high priority. Not helped by most of the world's largest republics being bad examples or dictatorships.

On SM-A136B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Saint]

Biggest hurdle is the treaty should have to go to a referendum since it is a critical.document that relates to how Australia manages its past. If it doesn't then the election after will be a nasty one with the treaty torn up if Libs win.

On SM-A136B using BigFooty.com mobile app

If I were an indigenous group, I'd go to the Monarchy. Bypass the piddly Australian Govt.

I think they tried that in the past, but Elizabeth watered down anything like that. Charles might be looking to make a mark....

 

[schneebly111]

If I were an indigenous group, I'd go to the Monarchy. Bypass the piddly Australian Govt.

I think they tried that in the past, but Elizabeth watered down anything like that. Charles might be looking to make a mark....

But then wouldn’t that confirm that Australian is not a sovereign state and is ultimately under the rule of the British crown?

So why then do we celebrate “Australia” day?

 

[MJG14]

The IPA always get airtime with this yearly Australia Day poll like they are some sort of independent, fair polling body. They are about as reputable as getting the Liberal Party or Gina to do the poll.

 

[Skeppersap]

The IPA always get airtime with this yearly Australia Day poll like they are some sort of independent, fair polling body. They are about as reputable as getting the Liberal Party or Gina to do the poll.

Is this another case of the right wing pollers skewing the stats and odds of the US election? How did that turn out in hindsight?

Same shit different day!

 

[peetoo]

Is this another case of the right wing pollers skewing the stats and odds of the US election? How did that turn out in hindsight?

Same shit different day!

We have an online poll in BF which says 2:1 hawks will be better then blues in 2025. Not skewed?

 

[kalex6251]

councils not participating in australia day activities now on the herald $cums hitlist ..... do newscorp foot soldiers really think this cringeworthy uber patriotic schtick will resonate with the australian public? really?

lurch must have promised uncle rupert the world if his company assets are going this hard in support

 

[schneebly111]

Is this another case of the right wing pollers skewing the stats and odds of the US election? How did that turn out in hindsight?

Same shit different day!

This isn't polling of an intention or prediction of how an election will go. There really is no way to verify the accuracy of those poll results as we aren't doing a plebiscite after.

So that's why I look more to the vibes and situation happening on Jan 26 in the suburbs, at the parks and on the beaches. Amongst my peers, work colleagues and communities. I look to see if people are actually "celebrating Australia" with my own eyes or not.

Less than 2 weeks to go and apart from the local council award ceremony breakfasts there's no one I know who is planning a private "Australia Day" BBQ or event to mark the day. No one I know is aware of one either.

I remember the last time something like that happened was about 12 years ago when someone put a flyer up at work of a special "Australia Day" pool party they were hosting, but then that also involved a Hottest 100 countdown session too.

Since then haven't seen any "Australia" events promoted for the day, and since 2017 no parties at all with the demise of the Hottest 100 on the day.

 

[rank and file]

I always look forward to the fireworks.

Sunday arvo down the pub having a punt then sit back and enjoy the show.

 

[Skeppersap]

This isn't polling of an intention or prediction of how an election will go. There really is no way to verify the accuracy of those poll results as we aren't doing a plebiscite after.

So that's why I look more to the vibes and situation happening on Jan 26 in the suburbs, at the parks and on the beaches. Amongst my peers, work colleagues and communities. I look to see if people are actually "celebrating Australia" with my own eyes or not.

Less than 2 weeks to go and apart from the local council award ceremony breakfasts there's no one I know who is planning a private "Australia Day" BBQ or event to mark the day. No one I know is aware of one either.

I remember the last time something like that happened was about 12 years ago when someone put a flyer up at work of a special "Australia Day" pool party they were hosting, but then that also involved a Hottest 100 countdown session too.

Since then haven't seen any "Australia" events promoted for the day, and since 2017 no parties at all with the demise of the Hottest 100 on the day.

I 100% agree. Not many people care for patriotic celebration of the day.

I honestly believe that 15% care about changing the date strongly, 15% strongly believe it shouldn't be changed, and 70% couldn't really care either way. So 85% don't care by my reckoning.

I do however believe that 60%-70% of the non carers are sick to death of identity politics and being told how they should think..... So I reckon in a plebiscite, keep the date would win easily.

They are only my guesses though, and I may be wrong.

 

[schneebly111]

I do however believe that 60%-70% of the non carers are sick to death of identity politics and being told how they should think..... So I reckon in a plebiscite, keep the date would win easily.

They "don't care" but they're also simultaneously "sick to death"?

 

[schneebly111]

I always look forward to the fireworks.
View attachment 2202884
Sunday arvo down the pub having a punt then sit back and enjoy the show.

A few country towns will fire off a few bangers and people will go along because kids like seeing things go bang but it's hardly an endorsement of Australian patriotism. They'll watch NYE fireworks too, doesn't mean they are proud of the Julian calendar.

The Perth SkyWorks used to attract more than 300,000, over the last few years that's down to about 60,000