Political commentator Andrew Bolt has proposed that Australia Day be moved to the anniversary of the failed Voice referendum.
Bolt suggested in his weekly column the date of the national holiday should be changed to October 14 if the debate on changing the date from January 26 continues.
‘That’s the anniversary of the day Australians voted against the Voice. The day we voted to move forward together as one people, united and equal,” he wrote.
‘Isn’t it worth celebrating? Furthermore, isn’t this something we urgently need?
Additionally, he took aim at the Labor government for leading campaigns such as the Voice referendum and leaving Australians “despised and divided”.
The referendum initially appeared to have strong support when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in May 2022 that it was going ahead.
Support fell as the election date approached before the referendum was rejected and in the end only 40 percent of voters backed it.
Bolt’s suggestion to change the date of Australia Day came after Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan revealed there are no plans to hold the parade in Melbourne again.
Political commentator Andrew Bolt has proposed that Australia Day be moved to the anniversary of the failed Voice referendum.
While the tradition, which was scrapped by former Prime Minister Dan Andrews four years ago during the Covid pandemic, remains off the table, Allan’s Labor government will mark the national day in other ways.
These include the annual 21-gun salute at the Shrine of Remembrance, a RAAF flyover and Flag Raising Ceremony and open day at Government House.
Victorian public servants will also have the option to work on January 26 and take a different day off.
“January 26 means different things to different people,” said a department of the prime minister and cabinet spokesperson.
“On this day, we encourage conversation and reflection on the different meanings of the day for all Victorians.”
Bolt criticized the Victorian government for caving in to “activists”.
‘But what if some activists claim to be distressed day by day?’ he wrote.
‘Why should this government destroy our national day and our nation just for them?’
Bolt suggested in his weekly column that the date of the national holiday should be changed to October 14 if debate continues over changing the date from January 26.
The Co-Chair of the First Victorian People’s Assembly, Ngarra Murray, told the Herald of the sun it was right to permanently cancel the parade.
“The Aboriginal community has different views on January 26, but whichever way you look at it, it is a day of mourning for many of our people,” he said.
“So, it’s not a date to celebrate.”
The state government is also withdrawing most of its support for Victoria’s long-standing Australia Day Ambassadors Programme.
The program, which sees prominent members of the community appointed as Australia Day ambassadors, will no longer be administered primarily by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Ambassadors received emails in November informing them that it would be up to local councils and communities to organize events in which they participated.
A government spokesperson said the change was to create local ambassadors who “reflect and resonate” with their communities.
They said a trial of the decentralized program had received good feedback.
If councils or cities were unable to find a local ambassador, they could still contact the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet for help.
The Australian National Day Council has approved the Victorian Government’s changes to the Ambassadors Programme.