Tasmanian Aboriginal leaders say change of Australia Day date is ‘unavoidable’

As thousands of united Tasmanians hit the streets to protest January 26 celebrations, local Aboriginal leaders say the Prime Minister is not “welcome” in Tasmania until the date is changed.

Invasion Day Rally on their way to Parliament house in Hobart. Picture : Mireille Merlet

Change is coming, and the Tasmanian Aboriginal community is waiting for the Prime Minister to step up to the plate.

That was the message echoed before a crowd of about 5000 attendees at the Invasion Day march in Hobart’s CBD on Thursday – where speakers called for 2023 to be the year of the Treaty.

As chants of “we won’t stop, we won’t go away, we won’t celebrate Invasion Day” carried out across the lawns of Parliament House Gardens, multiple speakers including members of Hobart’s Indigenous community, MPs and lawyers urged for change.

Nala Mansell of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre said it was the “biggest crowd” she had ever seen at an Aboriginal protest event.

Aboriginal leader and chair of the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania, Michael Mansell, was one such speaker who said the changing of the date was inevitable.

Michael Mansell, Tasmanian Aboriginal leader, activist and lawyer speaking on Invasion Day Rally at the lawn of Parliament House. Picture : Mireille Merlet

He said it was high time the Prime Minister acted on the growing consensus of the public.

“The Prime Minister simply has to sign a document at any time to change the date (but) he is asking us to continuously celebrate the date into an unknown future,” Mr Mansell said.

PICTURES: Hobart’s Invasion Day 2023

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“ … As such a divisive date where half the councils in Tasmania don’t wanna do it, and half the members of the public don’t wanna do it, and yet the Prime Minister says ‘hang in there’ for an unknown time and make us either celebrate or oppose the celebration,

“It is time for us to have a sensible debate about finding a new date for celebration.”

Hobart City Council recently announced that as of next year, citizenship ceremonies will no longer be held on January 26.

Mr Mansell said until the date was changed, Mr Albanese would no longer “be welcomed” in the state.

Invasion Day Rally on their way to Parliament house in Hobart. Picture : Mireille Merlet

“We will not welcome him and not allow him to come here until he sits down with Aboriginal people to talk about the voice and changing the date,” he said.

He said the attitude of the crowd and spectators of the march had been “fantastic”, and signified a reflection of the changing attitude towards the celebration of Australia Day on January 26.

“I don’t think it is a case of the Prime Minister being able to ignore any longer the overwhelming support there is for finding a new date,” he said.

“If he wants to be a leader of division, then (he will) maintain his position; but if he wants to be a prime minister of unity, then he has to change the date.”

Mr Mansell said this year, spectators on the street had clapped as protesters marched to the gardens, a far cry from rallies in years gone by.

Palawa man Rodney Gibbins, Chair of the Tasmania Truth-telling and Treaty, speaking at Invasion Day Rally in Hobart

“There is a real change in the wind … I can recall almost being spat at by people waving Australian flags in my face and in the face of Aboriginal children when we were walking down to Parliament House; that is no longer the case,” he said.

“Walking through Hobart today, people were clapping us. That in itself signifies the massive change in the public’s attitude,

“All we’re waiting on now is the Prime Minister to reflect that change.”

He said he believed the next “battle” was the proposed voice to parliament, which he opposed until after a treaty had been completed.

Aboriginal leader and chair of the Tasmania Truth-telling and Treaty, Rodney Gibbins, said a voice to parliament would only be possible through “truth telling” first, and then a treaty.

He agreed the changing of the date was inevitable.

“I think its unavoidable, and everybody else thinks it is unavoidable, so why delay the import of changing that (date)?,” he said.

Speaking on the massive turnout, Mr Gibbins said he thought the future was in “good hands”.

“ … These young kids – 20s and 30s – they’re our promise from here on out,” he said.

“And I think they will do us and the Aboriginal community very proud in this state.”

Originally published as Tasmanian Aboriginal leaders say change of Australia Day date is ‘unavoidable’