9th Feb 2017, 12:39 PM – Senate Motions - Australia Day - Change the date

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Australian Greens Party Senator Rachel Siewert (WA), which means it was unsuccessful. The motion called for the governments of Australia (federal, state and territory) to change the date of Australia Day "so that all Australians can participate in celebrating this national day".

This year, thousands of Australians took part in rallies around the country to mark 26 January as the mark of invasion.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges:

(i) that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the First Peoples of these lands and waters,

(ii) that 26 January is a day of mourning for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as it represents the beginning of colonisation, and

(iii) the call from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, local governments and community support to change the date; and

(b) calls on federal, state and territory governments to change the date of Australia Day so that all Australians can participate in celebrating this national day.