‘A reminder of the denial of our existence’: Tas Aboriginal leader calls for Australia Day date change

“It’s hurtful, it’s racist and it needs to be changed.” A Tasmanian Aboriginal leader says she’s “dumbfounded” as to why the Prime Minister still hasn’t changed the date of Australia Day.

Last year’s Invasion Day protesters on their way to Parliament House in Hobart. Picture: Mireille Merlet

A Tasmanian Aboriginal leader has once again called on the Prime Minister to urgently change the date of Australia Day from January 26.

“It’s hurtful, it’s racist and it needs to be changed,” Nala Mansell said.

Ms Mansell said Australia was possibly the only country in the world that still held its national day of celebration on the day marking the invasion or colonisation of that country.

“It shows the world that Australia is so relentless in its denial of the injustices committed against Aboriginal people,” she said.

“The invasion of Tasmania saw nearly a whole race of people completely wiped out as a result of invasion.

TAC Campaign Manager Nala Mansell. Picture: Chris Kidd

“To us, as well as Aboriginal people around the country, January 26 marks the day that the British first arrived on our land and claimed it as their own and declared a war against our people.

“In Tasmania specifically … it’s a reminder of the denial of our existence.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has previously stated there were no plans to change the date of Australia Day.

However, the federal government introduced legislation allowing local councils to move the dates of their citizenship ceremonies – with several Tasmanian councils, including Hobart, Glenorchy, Clarence and Kingborough – electing to do so.

Ms Mansell, the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre campaign manager, said the Zeitgeist of Tasmania had “certainly” changed in recent years – with more people now attending Invasion Day rallies than Australia Day celebrations.

“We had over 4000 people attend the street march and rally in nipaluna/Hobart last year and there were over 200 in Devonport. I think that goes to show Tasmania is leading the way in the country with their understanding of why celebrating that date is so offensive and why it needs to be changed,” she said.

She noted even corporate Australia was getting on-board – with Woolworths and Kmart no longer stocking Australia Day merchandise.

Ms Mansell said she was “dumbfounded” as to why Mr Albanese had pushed for a Voice to parliament when he was “blatantly ignoring” the voices of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people who wanted the date moved.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the city would this year hold its citizenship ceremony on January 27, along with the Sandy Bay regatta, which had also changed dates.

“Hobart City Council has a longstanding position of supporting the campaign to change the date,” Ms Reynolds said.

Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas said her council was one of the first to change the date of its citizenship ceremonies last year.

“Glenorchy City Council firmly believes this is a positive step toward reconciliation,” she said.

“Having recently endorsed its reconciliation action plan, we are committed to an open and honest conversation with the Aboriginal community and, in my view, removing the division caused by calling January 26 Australia Day is a part of that journey.”

Follow @ambervwilson