Prime Minister Encourages Australians to Refrain from Controversial Behaviors on Australia Day

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas says Australians need to embrace a more civil approach to Australia Day discussions.

“This weekend is the Australia Day long weekend,” Malinauskas said.

“Australia Day is on the 26th of January, that’s the law of the land and … I’m proud to be Australian. I know the country has challenges, and points of difference but it’s also important we have a sense of pride in how lucky we are to live in a place like this.”

Defaced monuments have already been reported, raising concerns that tensions could run high over the weekend.

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Victoria, in particular, is expected to see some of the most volatile protests. Jacinta Allan, the Premier of Victoria, has warned that police would be out in force and advised demonstrators against targeting the Australian Open.

Victorian Opposition leader Brad Battin echoed her concerns, calling any attack on the Australian Open would be an embarrassment to the nation.

Public Sentiment and Indigenous Recognition

Despite widespread attention on the issue, research by Roy Morgan shows a majority of Australians still support the national day on Jan. 26.

“I think we can celebrate the best parts of being Australian this weekend in a way that is respectful to one another, including towards the Indigenous community,” Malinauskas said.

When it comes to businesses and their approach, Malinauskas said that as a free, liberal democracy, businesses could “practice things as they see fit.”

“Personally, I celebrate Australia Day,” he said.

However, the premier said Jan. 26 was starting to become frustrating for people who were tired from the annual debate, which he likened to “some sort of ritual that we’ve got to start debating.”

Malinauskas said being born Australian was like winning the lottery, and said many migrants were thrilled to become citizens.

“I think part of the problem of the debate is the tone in which it’s conducted, it seems to be conducted in a tone where people aren’t respectful of one another’s opinions,” he said.

“That it’s more about throwing red meat at people to get angry about a topic, than it is about having a civil discourse respecting different points of view.

“I think that’s what’s tired, is the tone of the debate.”

Malinauskas said Australia Day could be “great if approached with civility.”

Need for Tolerance, Recognition

National Labor Party President Wayne Swan spoke about Australia on the Today Show, saying the date should be about “celebrating what makes our country great and the values that underpin that.”

“There’s always going to be a debate about the day, and some people will want to call it ‘invasion day’.

“I don’t think that’s the road we should go down, but we should recognize there is a debate.”

Swan said that while it was important to celebrate Australia, the holiday itself had only been gazetted as an official holiday since 1994, meaning it had not been a long tradition.

“The most important thing to do is to come together and celebrate what makes the country great,” he said.

“And that includes tolerance, that includes recognizing Indigenous history.”