00:00 On Australia's National Day, thousands of protesters took to the streets in Invasion
00:10 Day rallies, demonstrating their solidarity with the indigenous community.
00:15 Their collective voice called for reconsidering celebrations and urged a change in the date.
00:22 Protests echoed across major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart and more.
00:28 James Cummings, a participant, emphasised a recurring theme among the marchers - the
00:33 search for a more suitable day to commemorate the nation.
00:37 Annually, since 1994, January 26 has been celebrated as Australia Day.
00:44 It's the cherished official holiday for most Australians, offering an opportunity to hit
00:49 the beach, enjoy a summer test match and revel in festivities.
00:53 However, the chosen date aligns with the arrival of European settlers at Sydney Harbour in
01:00 1788, a historical event that for some symbolises the commencement of a violent, colonial campaign
01:08 that nearly wiped out the aboriginals from their ancestral lands.
01:14 Indigenous Australians, consulting 3.8 per cent of the nation's 26 million people, have
01:20 inhabited the land for a staggering 65,000 years.
01:25 Despite their enduring presence, they face significant challenges, including issues related
01:31 to health and education, rendering them among the most disadvantaged in the country.
01:37 Consequently, many within the indigenous community reject the celebration of this holiday.
01:43 Attending one of the rallies, Aboriginal elder Adrian Burugubba expressed, "Australia Day
01:50 doesn't mean anything to us.
01:52 For him, and many like him, it's a day that signifies aboriginal sovereignty, a poignant
01:58 reminder to the complex history embedded in the country's fabric."
02:02 Remarkably, on the eve of Australia Day statues paying homage to British colonial figures,
02:10 Captain James Cook and Queen Victoria were targeted in Melbourne.
02:15 Captain Cook's statue was reportedly toppled near Jaka Ballwood, severed in the shins and
02:21 adorned with the provocative message, "The Colony Will Fall."
02:26 Simultaneously, the statue of former monarch Queen Victoria bore the marks of red paint.
02:33 In response to the incident, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen vehemently denounced the act,
02:38 asserting that such vandalism has no place in Australian society.
02:43 She declared, "We will be working with the Council to repair and reinstate the statue
02:49 in St Kilda that has been vandalised overnight."
02:53 Opposition leader John Facetto echoed Allen's sentiments, labelling the incident as "unacceptable".
02:59 "There's no place for acts of vandalism or any other violent acts against people or property
03:06 in our community.
03:07 We support the right of people to protest and demonstrate.
03:11 But it must always be done peacefully and respectfully," emphasised Facetto, highlighting
03:17 the importance of peaceful expression amid the ongoing dialogue surrounding historical
03:22 symbols.
03:31 [MUSIC PLAYING]
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