The majority of Aussies believe Australia Day should continue to be celebrated on January 26, according to a new poll commissioned by the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA).
The polling, conducted by Research Now, shows 75 per cent of Aussies want to keep Australia Day on January 26, while just 10 per cent of the 1,000 people surveyed think the date should be changed.
“Only 8 per cent of young people between the ages of 18 to 24 say Australia Day should not be celebrated on January 26. Which proves that despite the media and political left narrative, young people are not drawn to the divisive argument of opposing our national day,” Bella d’Abrera, Director of the Foundations of Western Civilisation Program at IPA, said.
“January 26 marks the foundation of modern Australia and it should to be celebrated by all Australians. Rather than being ashamed of it, we should be proud of it.”
The public holiday is a topic of regular debate as many people question whether it is right to celebrate the occasion, with some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people instead referring to the day as Invasion Day, marking the invasion by British settlers of lands already owned.
The poll also revealed a staggering 88 per cent of people were “proud to be Australian” while only 3 per cent disagreed. Additionally, 76 per cent believe “Australia has a history to be proud of” and 92 per cent said “freedom of speech is an important Australian value”.
“Mainstream Australians are fundamentally optimistic and positive about Australia and its values,” d’Abrera added.
The poll, follows the Morrison government’s demand to councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.
Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Scott Morrison revealed he hopes the move will create further respect for the day.
According to the news outlet, the government has changed the citizenship code which will now force all 537 councils to hold the ceremonies – entrenching January 26 as Australia Day despite huge protests in recent years.
“We believe all councils who are granted the privilege of conducting citizenship ceremonies should be required to conduct a ceremony on Australia Day,” he added.
Morrison said he’s concerned that some councils are craftily dodging the ceremonies with excuses such as poor weather, therefore avoiding upset by calling them off last minute.
He said he hopes this move will “put an end to local councils trying to skirt the rules or playing politics with Australia Day”.
Morrison has made no secret of his determination to keep Australia Day on January 26 in the past and in September he hit out at a council’s decision to move the day, saying: “Indulgent self-loathing does not make Australia stronger. Being honest about the past does – our achievements and our failings.
“We should not rewrite our history. Our modern Australian nation began on January 26, 1788. That is the day to reflect on what we’ve accomplished, what we’ve become and what we still have to achieve. We can do this sensitively, respectfully, proudly and, most importantly, together. That’s my plan.”