Jeff Kennett: Australia Day shows what a sad case we’re becoming

What will we be waking up to on Australia Day? A secure, democratic society in the most envied multicultural nation on earth. So why do so many leaders keep putting our strengths down?

What a sad case we are becoming, when leaders, and leaders of high-profile organisations as large as Cricket Australia and Tennis Australia, decide not to recognise and salute Australia Day.

Added to that 80 councils will not recognise Australia Day.

But no doubt they will be taking the advantage of the public holiday that has been proclaimed for Friday, January 26.

Australia Day is legislated throughout the country as January 26. Until and if that changes, we should celebrate our history, our diversity and more importantly what we have and are on the 26th and what the future offers us all.

Just think about it for a moment. In how many other countries around the world on their national day will people be waking up to military conflicts, deaths, injuries, famine or disease, racial and religious intolerance? Dozens!

What will we be waking up to?

A secure and harmonious society. A democratic society, and proudly, the most envied multicultural nation on earth.

Are too many Australians losing track of how lucky they are?

Yes, we have current issues such as cost of living, housing and diversity of wealth, but we are a free nation.

A nation where the majority can live their dreams, which is why so many people from other countries seek refuge and opportunity here.

Yet so many of our leaders keep putting our strengths down. Devaluing what we are, what we have.

It is not until you lose something you realise how important it was.

So, who is on the front foot, promoting our strengths, our freedoms, our opportunities?

Clearly not Cricket Australia or those who organise the Australian Tennis Open.

Just remember it was Tennis Australia that took $60m of your and my money when they, like all of us, suffered because of Covid. How many other countries would even contemplate the rescue of a sporting body in trouble?

Australia can. Victoria did. I supported that bail out.

Why does not the Australian Open support the country that supports it?

Disgraceful!

I have said before, if the powers that be can find a more appropriate day to celebrate Australia Day, I am not opposed to considering a change.

But until and if that work is done and agreed upon, let’s celebrate and salute who we are and what our future might be.

Many Australian leaders, including cricket captain Pat Cummins, are turning their back on the national day. Picture: Getty

As for those apologists who want to suck the best out of our country, who simply do not have the strength to provide the leadership for such celebration, maybe they should move to Russia, Ukraine, Israel or the Gaza Strip to better appreciate what Australia is and what we have got, and why being Australian is worth celebrating.

So let me be constructive. If not, January 26, what might be an option?

February 7, 1788 was the day formal proclamation of the first State, then the colony of NSW, was read out. Hardly a day that meets a national purpose.

January 1, 1901, was when the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. This is a day that could be celebrated as it involves all States and Territories, although the Constitution at that time did not provide for our Indigenous community to be recognised and counted in any census that was conducted. So not inclusive of all Australians.

January 26, 1948 saw the proclamation of The Nationality and Citizenship Act which created Australian citizenship for the first time. Up until then we had only been British nationals.

The referendum of May 27, 1967 was passed by 90.77 per cent of Australia’s population that allowed for the counting of Indigenous peoples. For the first time we were one community.

On March 3, 1986 the Australia Act came into force being the final step in Australia’s constitutional independence from Britain.

This date, March 3, seems to me to be the most relevant if any change is to occur.

One independent country, one people regardless of where and when we arrived.

For now, celebrate Australia Day on January 26, with gusto and pride, as we have so much to celebrate.