This article was accepted into the corpus but its outbound wikilinks were never NER-processed — typical at the deepest BFS hop or when the run's entity cap was reached. No expansion funnel to show.
| Change the Date | |
|---|---|
| Name | Change the Date |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Location | Australia |
| Causes | Recognition of Indigenous sovereignty, reconciliation, constitutional reform |
| Methods | Advocacy, lobbying, protests, public education |
Change the Date Change the Date is an Australian civic movement advocating to shift the date of the national public holiday observed on 26 January. Originating in debates involving figures and institutions across Australian politics and civil society, the campaign engages with Indigenous leaders, historians, legal scholars, artists, and activists to reframe national commemoration. The movement connects to broader conversations about Indigenous rights, colonial legacy, and constitutional recognition.
The campaign traces intellectual roots to disputes around 26 January observances, debates among commentators in Sydney, commentary by academics at Australian National University and University of Sydney, and interventions from Indigenous organisations such as the Aboriginal Tent Embassy and National Congress of Australia's First Peoples. Public reckonings intensified after events involving institutions like the City of Sydney council, statements by premiers including those of New South Wales and Victoria, and commentary in media outlets such as the Sydney Morning Herald and The Guardian (Australia). Influential Indigenous advocates including Mabo (case), voices connected to the legacy of Eddie Mabo, and elders from communities in Northern Territory contributed to early framing.
Advocates seek to replace the 26 January holiday with a date intended to be inclusive of all Australians, promote recognition of Indigenous histories such as the impact of colonisation exemplified in legal landmarks like the High Court of Australia decisions, and advance measures for constitutional recognition debated in forums including the Referendum Council and the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Campaign objectives interlink with policy proposals from think tanks such as the Lowy Institute and positions articulated by Indigenous organisations including the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and Reconciliation Australia.
Responses have ranged across party lines from statements by leaders of the Liberal Party of Australia and the Australian Labor Party to positions taken by independents and minor parties such as the Greens. City councils in capitals like Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide have debated motions alongside state governments including Queensland Government and Tasmanian Government. National figures such as former prime ministers and cabinet ministers, commentators on programs like Q&A (TV program), and trade unions including the Australian Council of Trade Unions have participated in the public conversation. Polling by organisations like the Australian Bureau of Statistics and research from universities has informed legislative strategies.
Legal discourse around changing the date invokes constitutional questions addressed by the High Court of Australia, precedents such as Mabo v Queensland (No 2), and statutory instruments at state and federal levels including public holiday legislation in Commonwealth of Australia jurisdictions. Legislative actions include motions in state legislatures and debates in the Parliament of Australia, with advocacy groups engaging lawyers from firms and institutions linked to test cases on Indigenous land rights and treaty processes. Proposals for referendum pathways reference mechanisms discussed during inquiries by parliamentary committees and submissions to bodies like the Law Council of Australia.
Public demonstrations associated with the movement have occurred at stages connected to national ceremonies in Canberra and civic sites such as Federation Square, the Sydney Opera House forecourt, and state parliaments. Symbolic acts have included coordinated walkouts from citizenship ceremonies, flag-lowering events involving the Australian Aboriginal Flag and the Australian flag, and vigil actions organised by networks including Black Lives Matter Australia and local Indigenous community groups. Artists and performers who have joined actions include contributors from festivals like the Melbourne International Arts Festival and cultural institutions such as the National Museum of Australia.
Educational reforms promoted by campaigners have involved curriculum reviews at institutions including state departments of education and tertiary programs at Monash University and University of Melbourne, and exhibitions curated by museums such as the Museum of Australian Democracy and the Australian War Memorial. Cultural shifts appear in commemorations, journalism in outlets like The Conversation, and works by writers and filmmakers who engage with topics previously foregrounded by historians at the Australian Centre for Indigenous History. Partnerships with sporting organisations such as Australian Football League and Cricket Australia have influenced public visibility and programming.
Critics include commentators aligned with conservative media outlets, historians who emphasise continuity with settler-era narratives, and political actors who warn of divisiveness, citing examples from constitutional campaigns like the Republicanism in Australia debates and outcomes of referendums such as the 1999 Australian republic referendum. Opponents argue logistical concerns for national holidays, reference historical commemorations tied to institutions like the Commonwealth Games, and propose alternative reconciliatory measures such as treaty processes modelled on precedents in jurisdictions like Canada and New Zealand.
Category:Politics of Australia Category:Indigenous Australian politics