Jacinta Allan: Australia Day shouldn’t divide us
People who have differing points of view on Australia Day need to understand and acknowledge that it is still a special day for so many Australians, Premier Jacinta Allan writes.
Opinion
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Almost 15,000 people from 150 countries will become Australians on Australia Day.
The smiles on the faces of those new citizens are what Australia Day means to me, more than anything else.
It is a source of pride to me on Australia Day that so many – young and old, near and far – get to join us in the great Australian family.
People from every corner of the globe, every walk of life – who have chosen to make their home here.
We all have so much to be grateful for as Australians.
We live in a country with a great education system and world-class public universities; and where getting sent to hospital doesn’t send you bankrupt.
We live in a society that values fairness and opportunity above all; that measures you not by the colour of your skin but the goodness of your heart.
Ours is an ancient land – home to the oldest continuous civilisation on earth, a continent guarded by our First Peoples for more than 60,000 years.
Yet it is a young nation – full of new ideas, new students, new businesses and new families who define our future.
There are many challenges we must reckon with: The cost of living is biting and there aren’t enough homes for young people.
Hostile anti-Semitism is rearing its head and threatening our multiculturalism.
These challenges test us but never divide us.
Australia Day shouldn’t divide us, either.
There are plenty who have different opinions about Australia Day. I respect that. That’s what being a democracy is all about.
But respect is a two-way street. People who have differing points of view on Australia Day need to understand and acknowledge that it is still a special day for so many Australians – especially for multicultural people and migrants.
Their voices are worth listening to, as well.
As Premier, I have the honour of being a part of Australia Day’s flag raising ceremony at Government House – and I get to bring some special guests along with me.
This year, I’ve chosen to invite dozens of multicultural community leaders: men and women from different backgrounds who each come together to tell Australia’s story.
Let’s embrace that spirit of unity on Australia Day and throughout 2025.
Because even though some in our society try to stoke our differences, there’s
so much more that brings us together.
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