Divisi­ons have deepen­ed in recent years with increa­sing calls to change the date and protes­ts increa­sing in sizeMELBOURNE: Tens of thousands of people marched across Australia Friday in an “Invasion Day” protest calling for a rethink of the national day they say is offensive to indigenous people. The annual January 26 Australia Day holiday commemorates the arrival of the first British settlers in 1788, but for many Australians it marks the beginning of colonial oppression of Aboriginal people. “Australia is a diverse culture now, and we need to be inclusive to everyone, so change the date (of the national day),” Melbourne protestor Rachel Muir told AFP. In 2017 three local councils in Victoria state voted to no longer recognise January 26 as Australia Day. A recent poll suggested most Australians were laid back about their national day, and most people do not know why it is held on January 26.

Source: The Express Tribune January 26, 2018 09:22 UTC