A nation divided: How Aussies feel about Australia Day
A growing number of Australians won't be celebrating on 26 January, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,054 respondents revealed almost 1 in 5 (18%) – equivalent to 3.6 million Australians – won't be celebrating Australia Day and believe the date should be moved.
For a lot of Australians, 26 January is seen as a day of beach cricket and backyard barbeques – almost half (47%) will celebrate as usual and don't think the date should be moved.
The research found 1 in 7 (15%) say they will celebrate, but wouldn't be bothered if the date was to change.
A further 19% say they just want a public holiday and don't really care about the meaning behind it.
But for others, 26 January represents a day of mourning with some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples referring to it as "Invasion Day" leaving behind a painful legacy.
Sarah Megginson, money expert at Finder, said Australia Day is an increasingly taboo subject in recent years.
"While some see it as a day to celebrate our history and culture, others view it as a day that marks the beginning of colonisation and the displacement of Indigenous peoples.
"Australians have a wide spectrum of opinions on the national public holiday. In recent years, there has been a growing movement of those who are choosing to skip celebrations."
Young Australians are most in favour of changing the date, with 32% of gen Z and 21% of millennials saying they won't be celebrating and the date should be changed. In contrast, just 9% of baby boomers feel this way.
The majority of baby boomers (65%) will celebrate Australia Day as usual and don't think the date should be moved. Only 1 in 4 (27%) of gen Z feel the same way.
Australia Day became a public holiday in 1994 – nearly 30 years ago.
Megginson said the debate will continue to make headlines.
"The research shows that the younger generation is the one most interested in revisiting the date we celebrate the holiday.
"No matter your view on the date itself, we can all benefit from acknowledging and amplifying the voices of First Nations peoples," Megginson said.
| Will you be celebrating Australia Day? | |
|---|---|
| I will celebrate Australia Day as usual and I don't think the date should be moved | 47% |
| I just want a public holiday, I don't really care about the meaning behind it | 19% |
| I won't be celebrating – the date should be moved | 18% |
| I'm proud to be Australian and will celebrate, but wouldn't be bothered if we moved the date | 15% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,054 Australians, January 2023 |
| Will you be celebrating Australia Day? Generation breakdown | Baby boomers | Gen X | Gen Y | Gen Z |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I will celebrate Australia Day as usual and I don't think the date should be moved | 65% | 57.00% | 41% | 27% |
| I won't be celebrating – the date should be moved | 9% | 11.00% | 21% | 32% |
| I just want a public holiday, I don't really care about the meaning behind it | 6% | 19.00% | 21% | 28% |
| I'm proud to be Australian and will celebrate, but wouldn't be bothered if we moved the date | 20% | 13.00% | 16% | 13% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,054 Australians, January 2023 |