Thousands gathered across Australia on January 26 to welcome new citizens

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January 26, 2023

Key Point:

Thousands of people attended a rally in solidarity with Indigenous Australians on 26 January.
The event was a visual reminder of opposition to the holiday.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed some of Australia’s new citizens.

Millions of Australians celebrate Australia Day through civil rights ceremonies, protests and celebrations.

tens of thousands attended Held in all capitals to provide a visual reminder .

Protest leaders called for a focus on sovereignty, treaties and telling the truth. t, which is .

Canberra’s Galema Square was filled with people protesting National Day and the Voice of Parliament, with public squares littered with posters reading ‘f*** your voice – manufactured constitutional consent’ .

Protesters march past the Old Parliament House to the Aboriginal tent embassy as part of an ‘Invasion Day’ rally in Canberra. sauce: AAP / Mick Tsikas

At a rally in Melbourne, Green Party Senator Lydia Thorpe told the crowd that a “sovereignty treaty” was needed to “bring everyone together”.

Australia is the only Commonwealth nation that does not have treaties with First Nations populations at the Commonwealth level. State governments such as Victoria and Queensland have begun the process of negotiating treaties at the state level.

In Sydney, demonstrators held a minute’s silence. Since 1991.

Leethna Dungay, mother of Aboriginal man David Dungay Jr., who died in custody after repeating the phrase ‘I can’t breathe’ 12 times in 2015, said her son’s death was a stain that could never be removed. .

“For many people these[indigenous deaths in custody]numbers are just statistics. For me they are not. My son had a right to live. I have a right to demand justice for what happened, David.”

Protesters with placards march through the Sydney CBD.

Thousands joined a protest at Sydney’s Belmore Park before marching through Sydney’s CBD. sauce: AAP / Bianca de Marchi

Some were critical of Voice’s proposal, while others were supportive.

Eileen Monta, a Yuyin who attended a rally in Sydney, said she wanted unity as her country prepared for a referendum.

“Make the right decision for us to unite (with the voice). It doesn’t mean we’re going to — there’s a big split going on and you don’t have to do it,” she told SBS. told the news.

At a citizenship ceremony in Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged 26 January as “a difficult day for Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders”, but the federal government plans to change the date of National Day. said no.

He said support for “the world’s oldest continuing culture” would best be directed toward supporting the recognition of the Indigenous peoples’ constitution in a parliamentary voice referendum later this year. rice field.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Governor David Hurley with 23 of Australia’s newest citizens in Canberra. sauce: AAP / Mick Tsikas

At the ceremony, Mr. Albanese and Governor David Hurley held a private smoking ceremony with Indigenous elders before official commemorations were launched across the country on Wednesday.

They also greeted some of Australia’s newest citizens as more than 19,000 people across the country attended the ceremony.

Mr. Albanese personally congratulated the 23 new citizens. Among them were mental health practitioners, scientists, and mechanical estimators.

Camilla Roy artist Rhonda Sampson stands in front of her artwork ‘Dhyan Warlane’ projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House at dawn as part of the 26th January event. sauce: AAP / Bianca de Marchi

“You bring the world to us, you bring to us your drive, your passion, your talents and your aspirations. Looking at the list of occupations presented here today, we can see that Australia wants and needs It’s a skill roll call,” Albanese said.

“No matter where you live, who you worship, who you love, what your last name is, knowing that you are a citizen of a country where you can draw your own future. want.

Australia Day is a public holiday, marking the day in 1788 when Captain Arthur Phillip raised the Union Jack over Sydney Cove and claimed the land as a British colony.

For some it is a day of celebration, but for many Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders

– Comes with AAP.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/new-citizens-welcomed-as-thousands-rallied-across-australia-in-solidarity-with-first-nations-people/jw2mh5kfc Thousands gathered across Australia on January 26 to welcome new citizens