Political commentator Andrew Bolt has proposed moving Australia Day to the anniversary of the failed Voice referendum.
Bolt suggested in his weekly column the date of the national day should be changed to October 14 if the debate over 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 that worth celebrating? In fact, isn’t that something we desperately need?’
He also targeted the Labor government for leading campaigns such as the Voice referendum and leaving Australians ‘disparaged and divided’.
The referendum initially appeared to receive strong support when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in May 2022 that it would go ahead.
Support declined as the election date approached before the referendum was voted down, with only 40 percent of voters ultimately supporting it.
Bolt’s suggestion to change the date of Australia Day came after Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan revealed there are no plans to bring the parade back to Melbourne.
Political commentator Andrew Bolt has proposed moving Australia Day 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, the Allan Labor government will celebrate the national day in other ways.
These include the annual 21-gun salute at the Shrine of Remembrance, an RAAF flyover and the flag raising ceremony and open day at Government House.
Victorian civil servants will also have the option to work on January 26 and take another day off.
“January 26 means different things to different people,” a department and cabinet spokesperson said.
‘On this day we encourage conversations and reflection on the different meanings of the day for all Victorians.’
Bolt slammed the Victorian government for bowing to “activists”.
“But what if some activists claim to be desperate by the day?” he wrote.
“Why would this government destroy our national holiday 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 the debate over changing the date from January 26 continues.
Ngarra Murray, co-chair of the First Assembly of Victoria, told the press Herald Sun it was right to cancel the parade permanently.
“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 is not a date to celebrate.’
The state government is also withdrawing most of its support for the long-running Victorian Australian Day Ambassadors Program.
The program, which appoints leading community members as Australia Day ambassadors, will no longer be primarily managed by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Ambassadors received emails in November saying it was up to local councils and communities to organize events that focused on them.
A government spokesperson said the change was aimed at creating local ambassadors who “reflect and resonate” with their communities.
They said a trial of the decentralized program had received good feedback.
If municipalities or cities were unable to find a local ambassador, they could still contact the Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet for assistance.
The National Australia Day Council has approved the Victorian Government’s changes to the Ambassador Program.