Two out of three support Jan 26

MORE than two-thirds of Australians support celebrating Australia Day on January 26, new research has revealed.

According to a poll, carried out by free market think tank Institute of Public Affairs, 69 per cent of Aussies want our national day to remain as it is.

The survey, carried out on 1038 people, showed that just 11 per cent of respondents were in favour of the date being changed.

The majority of those interviewed (82 per cent) said they felt proud to be Australian, while almost three-quarters (72 per cent) think that marking the national day is an authentic way for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to celebrate being Australian.

IPA’s Dr Bella d’Abrera said that celebrating Australia Day should “unite all Australians”.

“Mainstream Australians are fundamentally optimistic and positive about Australia and its values,” Dr d’Abrera said.

“January 26 marks the foundation of modern Australia, and the freedoms that go with it.

“Modern Australia is defined by freedoms which are enjoyed by all Australians. This is something that should be celebrated, not denigrated.

“Australians are fundamentally proud to be Australian and recognise that Australia has a history to be proud of.”

However former Treaty Advancement commissioner Jill Gallagher said that Australia Day being held on January 26 – the date the First Fleet landed in Australia – was “hurtful and disrespectful” to Indigenous people.

She backed the “fight for a change of date” and said January 26 could be used for other purposes. “We could keep January 26 as a public holiday for our Remembrance Day, or Day of Reclaiming, or Recognition Day, so that all of Australia never forgets,” she said.