26 January not a date to celebrate: First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria

Jan 17, 2025

With 26 January approaching, the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria – the elected group of Traditional Owners leading the journey to Treaty for Victoria – today said that it is not a date to celebrate.

Federally, 26 January has only been designated as an ‘Australia Day’ public holiday since 1994. However, this date marks the beginning of the British colonising Australia and the negative consequences that are still felt today. Aboriginal people have held protests on this date from 1938 when it was first declared a “Day of Mourning” by Aboriginal campaigners.

First Peoples’ Assembly Co-Chair and Wamba Wamba, Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung and Dhudhuroa woman Ngarra Murray said that if the aim of a national holiday is to bring people together, it shouldn’t be held on a date that causes hurt and pain to many people in our community.

“If we want to move on together, we have to accept the truth about what was done to Aboriginal people and how January 26 represents the beginning of dedicated attempts to wipe our people, our cultures, and our languages off the face of the planet. It shouldn’t be surprising that throwing a party on that date is offensive to a lot of Aboriginal people,”

Ngarra Murray

The Assembly will be bringing together Aboriginal Community leaders in Victoria in the lead up to 26 January for a joint call to encourage Victorians to stand in solidarity with mob this year. 

“Let’s find ways to bring people together with respect. Let’s create celebrations that can unite, rather than exclude people. Celebrations where everyone can feel welcome,”

Ngarra Murray

Assembly Co-Chair and Gunditjmara man Rueben Berg said that in recent years more and more friends and allies have joined in solidarity with Aboriginal people, recognising that 26 January is not a date to celebrate.

“We’re encouraged to see a number of local communities, businesses and organisations taking their own steps to stop celebrating on 26 January and we’d urge individuals to add their name to the Not a Date to Celebrate petition that Clothing the Gaps is running.

We thank the local councils that are showing leadership and compassion and supporting inclusivity by acknowledging that for many people 26 January is a day of mourning. It’s not a date to celebrate.”

Rueben Berg

Update: On 21 January Assembly Members joined with various Aboriginal community leaders for a joint media event encouraging members of the public not to celebrate 26 January – but instead show solidarity by attending a Invasion/Survival Day event in their area.