Jeff Kennett: The four big reasons to celebrate our nation with pride

As the annual Australia Day debate ramps up, there are four basic answers to the question: What does Australia mean to me?

The perennial debate about Australia Day is building up yet again, the protests about conflicts in other parts of the world, the increasing acts of anti-Semitism, and of course the division between many of our First Settlers and other sections of the community.

I have been asking myself increasingly What is Australia, What does Australia mean to me?

There are four basic answers to that question, and I hope that after the next federal and state elections the new governments will put value and weight behind each of these vital ingredients for creating and building a proud and united Australian community.

1. We are a free and democratic country

We only have to observe what is happening around the world today, to realise how fortunate we are that Australia is so far away from the rest of the world, to not share our borders with any other country.

That we have an enshrined democratic system for governing with a respected rule of law.

It is these two facts alone that have been the attraction for millions of families to leave their country of birth, to leave behind wars, poverty, prejudices, to come here to a country that is not only a place of free men and women, but offers opportunity and reward for those who want to work.

Australia encourages enterprise and effort, and generally speaking allows people to be rewarded for their efforts. Picture: Nicole Cleary

2. We are a Christian community

For years we have allowed this fundamental fact to be sidelined, downgraded.

That has partly been the result of changing times, access to activities other than the personal practice of religion, including more recently social media in all its forms, and partly the fault of our church leaders who failed to excite and modernise their offerings.

To have a faith other than in oneself is a blessing and an asset, and I strongly respect those who have that attachment to a faith.

Because we are a Christian community, important dates in the Christian calendar should be celebrated openly, proudly and publicly, and supported and encouraged by our political and commercial leaders. Occasions like Christmas and Easter. And activities such as Myer and their Christmas windows, and families decorating their houses with Christmas decorations.

Being a Christian community allows us to recognise other Australians of different faiths and encourage them to practise their faith.

We should not be diverted from celebrating and promoting Australia’s underlying Christian faith.

To build One Australia we should live under and salute one flag. Picture: iStock

3. Land of opportunity

In my life I have met thousands of people who arrived in Australia with nothing but the shirt on their back.

They have come from so many countries, many of them have created wonderful businesses, generated great wealth, but in turn given back to Australia in spades.

As have, of course, so many who have been born here over the past 236 years.

The creation of wealth is not the major test of a successful life. The majority of Australians, Indigenous, non-Indigenous and new settlers, have built families and a happy lifestyle based on their own efforts which were simply not available elsewhere.

Australia encourages enterprise and effort, and generally speaking allows people to be rewarded for their efforts.

Of course, our First Settlers, our Indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders, were here hundreds of years before.

We should salute them and their culture, but we can’t in 2024 change the past. We can work to eliminate poverty and discrimination wherever it exists among all and any Australians.

We are not two peoples, but many. And we should celebrate our mixed cultures and work together to create an even better, more tolerant Australia, that focuses on the things that should unite us rather than divide us.

We are not two peoples, but many. Picture: Martin Ollman

4. One flag

I very much support the concept that to build One Australia we should live under and salute one flag.

What individual communities want to do within their own community is fine, but all public buildings federal or state should only fly the Australian flag.

When you travel overseas to other democratic countries you rarely find them flying more than their national flag.

My suggestion should also apply to municipal councils where today so many fly a multitude of flags.

So I want to be proactively supporting the four issues I have raised above. Unashamedly. With great gusto.

It is not just about a street march, but a range of events and education that build up to celebrating Australia, its people and its future on January 26 every year.

I doubt we will ever find a date that suits all, so use the January 26, not to look back but to celebrate who we are, where we are, and our future.

What Australia means to each and every one of us.

Let’s celebrate across the nation, wave the flag, naturalise new Australians, join arms and give thanks we are citizens of this great country.

Jeff Kennett is a former premier of Victoria