Commentary Now that most of the musket smoke has been blown away after the Australia Day (or “Invasion Day”) celebrations, it’s time to take stock and survey the battlefield. People will tell you that the gazetting of Australia Day as a national public holiday is only a relatively recent innovation, and that is partly true—1988…

Nineteen thousand immigrants from over 140 countries became Australians on Thursday at citizenship ceremonies around the country.  Citizenship ceremonies across Australia hold great significance on Jan. 26, with a flagship ceremony in the capital overseen by the prime minister and governor-general. One of those new Australians, Nashieli Garcia Alaniz, was among those whose pledge was…

The debate over whether Australians should celebrate Australian Day or replace it with Invasion Day could be settled by putting it to a vote, suggests Nationals senator Matt Canavan. Australia Day, Jan. 26, marks the day when Captain Arthur Phillip’s First Fleet arrived in Sydney Cove (now known as Circular Quay) and claimed the southern continent…

This year’s Australia Day honours list includes a significant number of local heroes and community leaders who have been recognised for their contribution to Australian society alongside well-known entertainers, military figures and public officials. Among the prominent figures featured in the annual honours is the late Indigenous singer, songwriter, and aboriginal rights activist Archie Roach,…

Despite its challenges, Australia is a country worth celebrating for both its modern history and deep Indigenous culture, the governor-general says. Whether through celebration, commemoration or protest, millions of people across the nation will mark the 235th anniversary of Captain Arthur Phillip landing at Sydney Cove. Since that day, Australia had become a country to…

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has celebrated the diversity of passions, backgrounds and achievements among the nominees for the Australian of the Year awards. From community heroes to advocates and Indigenous leaders, finalists from across the country gathered in Canberra ahead of an awards ceremony on Wednesday night. Albanese met the 32 finalists during morning tea at…

As major companies opt out of celebrating Australia’s national day, opposition leader Peter Dutton is calling on citizens to be proud of their heritage, not ashamed of it. Australia Day, Jan. 26, marks a public holiday that commemorates the landing of the First Fleet in Sydney in 1788, which eventually led to the first European…

The head of the Australian television network, Channel 10, has discouraged staff from celebrating Jan. 26 as Australia Day, arguing the date marks the beginning of a “turbulent history” for Indigenous people, according to an internal note. Channel 10 is one of five national free-to-air networks and is part of Paramount Australia and New Zealand…

Commentary One of the striking things about life in wartime is how normal it can be for ordinary people. Imagine life in Paris under German occupation for four years during the Second World War. Children were born, and old people died—of natural causes. Teachers taught, and kids went to school to learn. Shops, churches, and…

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has said that a memo sent to the staff prior to Australia Day encouraging them to act “inclusively” towards Indigenous Australians was not an official document and that it should not have been disseminated. It comes after the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) and other media outlets reported…