The campaign that stopped Voice to Parliament unveils its new mission: Save Australia Day
The brains behind the Voice to Parliament No campaign has set its sights on a new ‘threat’ to Australian culture: Australia Day.
Advance Australia has sent a message to supporters, warning that Labor ‘hates Australia Day in their hearts’ and ‘wants it to die a silent death’.
After helping to defeat the Voice alongside Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Warren Mundine and Peter Dutton’s Coalition, Advance has now pledged to revive Australia’s National Day.
“Every year we are forced to have selfish, Australia-hating debates about changing the date of Australia Day,” said founder Matthew Sheahan.
‘I’m done with it.’
Advance Australia has sent a message to loyal supporters, warning that national leaders ‘hate Australia Day in their hearts’ and ‘want it to die a silent death’
Senator Nampijinpa Price himself recently joined the debate, urging voters to ‘take pride in what it means to be Australian in this fortunate country’
Mr Sheahan said it was “wrong” to hate Australia Day and that Australia was a “great country” that should be celebrated.
He has suggested “the date of Australia Day be legislated” to “ensure it will not change without a vote of the people”.
‘Help get it back on the agenda. It will let all those in power know that you are tired of apologizing because you love our country.
“We must stop the bickering activists and put power back in the hands of the people.”
The organization hopes to raise $157,000 from fans to “force this campaign into the offices of those in power.”
Senator Nampijinpa Price himself recently joined the debate, urging voters to “take pride in what it means to be an Australian in this fortunate country.”
During the Voice referendum campaign, critics often warned that – if the vote were to pass – the advisory body would ultimately focus on Australia Day
Australia Day has become a polarizing event, with some arguing that January 26 should be marked as a day of mourning for the dispossession of Indigenous people
“Appreciate what we have,” she said.
During the Voice referendum campaign, critics often warned that the advisory body – if the vote were successful – would ultimately focus on Australia Day.
Despite assurances from Indigenous Australian minister Linda Burney that The Voice would not engage in “culture wars” such as abolishing Australia Day, other Yes campaigners who helped formulate the referendum question were less certain.
Both Teela Reid and Thomas Mayo referred to the fact that the Voice has the power to advise on Australia Day, despite Ms Burney’s comments.
Tweets unearthed during the campaign show Mayo hoped the Voice would be “an appropriate body, with the appropriate authority to discuss an appropriate date” to celebrate Australia Day.
He later told Daily Mail Australia that his views on the matter had changed.
Even without the Voice, Australia Day has become a more controversial topic over the years, as activists and ordinary Australians argue that the country’s colonizing history should not be celebrated.
Thousands of people take to the streets nationwide to protest on January 26, and municipalities are increasingly choosing to refrain from celebrations.
About 80 councils have already scrapped Australia Day citizenship ceremonies for 2024.
About 80 councils have already scrapped Australia Day citizenship ceremonies for 2024