Home Australia Institute of Public Affairs poll reveals what Aussies REALLY think about the controversy surrounding our national holiday – and whether the date should be changed

Institute of Public Affairs poll reveals what Aussies REALLY think about the controversy surrounding our national holiday – and whether the date should be changed

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A right-wing think tank says there has been a surge in support for celebrating Australia Day on January 26. Pictured is a young Australia Day reveler.

There has been a surge in support, particularly among young Australians, for Australia Day to be celebrated on its traditional date, a surprising new poll has revealed.

The survey by the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) found that 69 per cent of 1,002 respondents agreed that the national holiday should remain on January 26, an increase of six points from 12 months ago.

According to the right-wing think tank, the growing shift towards January 26, which marks the arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson in 1788, is particularly pronounced among Australians aged 18 to 24, despite being less close to favor than other age groups. .

Last year, only 42 per cent of young Australians supported celebrating January 26, but that figure has risen to 52 per cent.

A majority in all age groups now prefers January 26 as the national commemoration date.

The survey also found that 86 per cent of respondents were “proud to be Australian”, while 68 per cent agreed that Australia has “a history to be proud of”.

IPA deputy chief executive Daniel Wild said the results demonstrated a change in the vibe and energy surrounding Australia Day.

‘In the recent past, every January, Australians have had to endure the hand-wringing and navel-gazing of self-proclaimed opinion leaders and elites demanding the country think about reasons to be ashamed of Australia. No more!’ he said the daily telegraph.

A right-wing think tank says there has been a surge in support for celebrating Australia Day on January 26. Pictured is a young Australia Day reveler.

Wild pointed to the failed Indigenous Voice referendum to Parliament.

Backflips by supermarket giant Woolworths and hotel operator Australian Venue Co to downplay Australia Day due to public backlash were also further evidence of the turnaround.

“It is clear that Australians in general have felt bad about this attitude and about being humiliated by the elites,” Mr Wild added.

“January 26 is more than just a date – it represents the establishment of modern Australia as a free and fair country.”

It comes after Liberal MP Andrew Wallace claimed most Australians have had “hearts” when woke activists tell them what to do.

The IPA poll indicated a growing shift against Invasion Day commemorations on January 26. Pictured is Senator Lydia Thorpe participating in an earlier Invasion Day rally.

The IPA poll indicated a growing shift against Invasion Day commemorations on January 26. Pictured is Senator Lydia Thorpe participating in an earlier Invasion Day rally.

Wallace, who represents Fisher in southeast Queensland, said he is frequently stopped on the streets by ordinary Australians fed up with the debate.

“The word woke was never really in the mainstream vocabulary until recently,” he told Sky News presenter Danica De Giorgio last week.

“I think people have had a real fit and I’m not talking about LNP members or people involved in politics, but just ordinary Australians who have had enough.”

“They want the government out of their lives, they are telling them what is right and what is wrong, how they should think, where they should shop, what they should do.”

Wallace said Australia Day was “special” and should be treated as such.

“Australians are a friendly, peace-loving people who are, and should be, very, very proud of this great country,” he said.

‘It’s a very special day as we recognize Australia and we should be very proud of where we have come over the last 240 years.

The survey found that Australians aged 18 to 24 had moved on from January 26 as a national day.

The survey found that Australians aged 18 to 24 had moved on from January 26 as a national day.

‘We are the twelfth largest economy in the world and we have a very small population: 27 million people.

‘We box well above our weight in many areas, in sport, in the economy, in industry.

“We are a great country and we should be very, very proud of what we have managed to build.”

January 26 has been labeled Invasion Day by those who believe it should be a day of mourning for the dispossession of indigenous Australians.

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