There has been a surge in support, particularly among young Aussies, for Australia Day to be celebrated on its traditional date, a surprising new poll has revealed.
The survey conducted by the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) found that 69 per cent of 1,002 respondents agreed that the national public holiday should remain on January 26- a six point increase from 12 months ago.
According to the right-wing think tank, the growing shift towards January 26, which marks the arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson in 1788, is particularly pronounced among Australians aged 18-24, despite being less in favour than other other age group.
Last year, just 42 per cent of young Aussies supported celebrating on January 26 but that number has risen to 52 per cent.
A majority in every age bracket now prefers January 26 as the date for national commemoration.
The poll also found 86 per cent of respondents were ‘proud to be Australian’ while 68 per cent agreed that Australia has ‘a history to be proud of’.
IPA deputy executive Director Daniel Wild said the results demonstrated a shift in the vibe and energy surrounding Australia Day.
‘In the recent past every January, Australians have needed to endure the hand-wringing and navel gazing of the self-appointed thought leaders and elites demanding the country to think of the reasons to be ashamed of Australia. No more!’ he told the Daily Telegraph.
A right wing think tank says there has been a surge in support for holding Australia Day on January 26. Pictured is a young Australia Day reveller
Mr Wild pointed to the failed Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.
Backflips by supermarket giant Woolworths and hospitality operator Australian Venue Co to downplay the significance of Australia Day due public backlash was also further evidence of the turning tide.
‘It is clear that mainstream Australians have had a gutful of this attitude and being put upon by the elites,’ Mr Wild added.
‘The 26th of January is more than just a date, it represents the establishment of modern Australia as a free and fair country.’
The IPA poll indicated a growing shift against Invasion Day commemorations on January 26. Pictured is Senator Lydia Thorpe taking part in a previous Invasion Day rally
Mr Wallace, who represents Fisher in south-east Queensland, said he is frequently stopped on the streets by regular Australians fed-up with the debate.
‘The word woke was never really in mainstream vocabulary until recently,’ he told Sky News host Danica De Giorgio last week.
‘I think people have had an absolute gutful and I’m not talking about members of the LNP or people involved with politics, just everyday average Australians that have had enough.
‘They want government to get out of their lives, they’re over being told what’s right and wrong, how they should think, where they should buy, what they should do.’
Mr Wallace said Australia Day was ‘special’ and should be treated as such.
‘Australians are a friendly, peace-loving people who are, and should be, very, very proud of this great country,’ he said.
‘It’s a very special day where we recognise Australia and we should be very proud of where we have come over the past 240 years.
The poll found that Australians aged 18-24 had swung behind January 26 as the national day
‘We’re the 12th largest economy in the world and we’re a very small population – 27 million people.
‘We box well above our weight in so many areas, in sport, in the economy, in industry.
‘We’re a great country and we should be very, very proud of what we have managed to build.’
January 26 has been labelled Invasion Day by those who believe it should be a day of mourning for the dispossession of Indigenous Australians.
