Australia Day poll results show majority of people want to celebrate on January 26

All but one age group questioned showed support for the celebration of Australia Day on January 26. And less than one in five people wanted to change the date. See the results.

Fewer than one in five Australians want to change the date of Australia Day while nine in ten citizens say they are “proud to be Australian,” according to new polling from the Institute of Public Affairs examining public attitudes to our national day.

However while nearly two-thirds of us agree Australia Day should remain January 26, Australians aged 18-24 are more ambivalent thanks to the “relentless indoctrination” of the schools system, the IPA said.

According to the survey of over 1000 Australians, 63 per cent of respondents agreed with the statement “Australia Day should be celebrated on January 26.”

Just 17 per cent disagreed, while 20 per cent had no opinion.

The results closely track with previous annual IPA surveys which found similar majorities agreeing that Australia Day should remain the 26th.

The support for the day comes despite ongoing controversy around Australia Day, which marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove.

Nine in 10 citizens polled said they were proud to be Australian.

Last week, supermarket giant Woolworths touched off calls for boycotts after it said it would not sell Australia Day merchandise this year due to lack of demand.

Earlier this month it was revealed that at least 81 local councils across the country had decided to move their citizenship day ceremonies away from Australia Day after being given the green light by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The survey, conducted by polling firm, Dynata found that celebrating Australia Day on January 26 was only controversial among 18-24 year olds, with just 42 per cent agreeing that the date should be kept.

Every bracked of voters older than 25 agreed the date should stay the same.

However a majority in every bracket of voters older than 25 agreed that the date should stay the same, with 61 per cent of 25-34 year olds agreeing with the current Australia Day and 71 per cent of those over 55.

Even greater numbers agreed that they were proud to be Australian (87 per cent) and that Australian history was something to be proud of (69 per cent).

Daniel Wild, from the Institute of Public Affairs said it was concerning but not surprising younger people disagreed with the date. Picture: Simon Bullard

“Australia is the greatest nation on earth. Our way of life and freedoms are the envy of the world, and they must be cherished and celebrated,” said IPA deputy executive director Daniel Wild.

“It is concerning just 42 per cent of those aged 18-24 support Australia Day on January 26, this is a direct result of relentless indoctrination taking place at schools and universities (however) a strong majority of younger Australians beyond the years of formal education support our national day,” he said.

“You can hardly blame young Australians for having a negative view of their country given they are continually told it is not worth celebrating or fighting for.”

NSW upper house member Rachel Merton said that it was important to keep Australia Day on the 26th.

“On the 26th of January we celebrate the miracle of modern Australia.”

“We recognise the incredible courage and vision of Arthur Phillip and the First Fleet, and give thanks for the privilege of living in the world’s greatest democracy.”

Originally published as Australia Day poll results show majority of people want to celebrate on January 26