Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) supports:

  (i) Australia Day being held on 26 January each year, and

  (ii) our national flag and anthem; and

(b) opposes any move to change these symbols.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia Day is the national day of celebration for all Australians. Every year on 26 January, Australians celebrate what unites us as a nation: the history that makes us who we are, the country we love and the values and institutions that underpin it. The Australian national flag is Australia's national symbol and has become an expression of Australian identity and pride since it was first flown in 1901, especially for Australia's Defence forces who have served under it. I invite all senators to join me in celebrating Australian National Flag Day on 3 September. The coalition government will never change the date of Australia Day or the Australian national flag or the Australian anthem.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia Day is an important national day. It's a source of great celebration for Australians. But it's also a day of reflection. For First Nations peoples, 26 January speaks of injustice, dispossession and sorrow. On Australia Day, we should acknowledge that the British assertion of possession was without the consent of First Nations people already here. Australia Day should give us pause to reflect on the need for truth-telling, not the one-upmanship that we see from Senator Bernardi—truth-telling about our history, the good and the bad. Hearing the truth is necessary if we are to heal trauma and purge the guilt from our national psyche. Our history has its fault-lines, like other countries. We have our share of triumphs and successes and our share of scars and stains, just as other countries do.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Greens oppose this motion. We do not support Australia Day being celebrated on 26 January. And one day those on this side of the chamber, the ALP, will be standing up here, saying exactly the same thing, and campaigning really hard to say, 'We need to change the date.' They will join the campaign. They will recognise that this day is a day of mourning for many Aboriginal people. If we are talking about truth-telling, yes—let's tell the truth on 26 January. Let's tell the truth about how this country was invaded, the people dispossessed and attempts to destroy their culture undertaken. We should be recognising that on this day, and celebrating this nation on some other day that is not a day of mourning.

Question agreed to.