Hear Me Out: Australia Day | What's the history of January 26?

January 26 is a date that sparks debate each year. So, what’s the history of the date?

Stream Hear Me Out: Australia Day on ABC Indigenous YouTube and ABC iview from Monday 20 January

___________________________________________

For more ABC Indigenous:
@ABCIndigenous | #ABCIndigenous

[philbis]

everything about Australia Day and the politicians who allow it to continue is appalling (both sides

[razerd]

This misses a significant reason for the date. 26 January 1949 is the day the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 was enacted. Under this Act all Australians became Australian citizens. Until then they were all British subjects (as were Aboriginal people). Very few people seem to know the significance of this day in 1949.

[veryindigenousperson]

We should be talking about land rights, reparations, and land use agreements and treaties that are binding, inalienable, and punishable by law.
We should be talking about incarceration rates, deaths in custody, youth incarceration, youth su!c!de, health, education, and employment and economic opportunities. The list goes on, take your pick.
Instead, we have this sideshow every year where we scream about people having a day off work to watch fireworks and drink diluted poison.
This yearly "debate" is a wood duck designed to keep your eyes diverted from the real grassroots efforts to close the many gaps between Indigenous and non Indigenous peoples in this country.

We got a lot of things to talk about before we worry about the day the fireworks are on.

[holyghostpilgrim]

You only showed one side of the coin. Very biased presentation. I was all keen to hear how we were going to unify and be one people. Majority has spoken, you need to understand that concept.