Australia Day in Perth, 2013. Source: Kaoz69, Wikimedia Commons
The Victorian government has decided to cancel its annual Australia Day parade, receiving both praise and criticism.
A First Nations leader has applauded the government for this decision, whereas Victoria’s Opposition leader called the decision ‘deeply disappointing’ and demanded an explanation.
A Victorian government spokesperson said, “We recognise Australia Day represents a day of mourning and reflection for some Victorians and is a challenging time for First Peoples.”
As an alternative to the Australia Day parade, the state government will host activities at Government House and Federation Square, along with a 21-gun salute, a flag raising ceremony, and an aerial show.
Marcus Stewart, co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, said that the government’s choice to ditch the Australia Day celebrations was a small but positive step for Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander people.
“The parade was a slap in the face and only rub salt in the wounds. It was a mark of the harm and the hurt that was caused through colonisation,” Mr Stewart said.
“Now we can start a mature dialogue in this country around what a day looks like, that we can all celebrate a day that brings us together and doesn’t push us apart.”
Victoria’s Opposition Leader, John Pesutto, was not pleased with the scrapping of the Australia Day parade and demanded an explanation from the government, saying, “the cancellation of the Australia Day Parade is deeply disappointing.”
“This is a popular family event that both brought communities together and people into our CBD – it shouldn’t be tossed aside without any explanation.”
According to council figures, crowds attending the Australia Day parade were already seriously dwindling, falling from 72,000 in 2018 to just 7,000 in 2020.
Invasion Day rallies, however, continue to grow bigger every year, with thousands of Indigenous Australians and allies taking to the streets protesting for a brighter future.
