A nation divided: A qualitative exploration of Australians' attitudes towards the date of Australia Day

Australia Day continues to be a divisive event in Australia. The contentious public holiday currently falls on January 26, a date which marks the beginning of colonisation in Australia and the subsequent persecution of Australian First Nations peoples. Despite the date's controversial historical ties, some Australians remain in support of ‘saving the date’. The current study aimed to deepen understanding of Australians' thoughts and opinions regarding Australia Day, including their reasons in support of changing or saving the January 26 date. Responses from 208 Australian citizens, collected via a national survey, were thematically examined. While analysis confirmed a division in attitudes towards Australia Day, greater support for date change was found among younger Australians. The current study applies and extends Social Identity Theory, identifying key themes which were linked to support for date change and improved intergroup relations within the Australia Day context. Themes included acknowledgement of colonisation and the damage done to First Nations peoples, participants' political views, and educational awareness. These findings have important theoretical and practical implications which may assist with breaking down the social barriers that support date-change resistance, helping Australians move towards a more inclusive future.