Fun fact: We are the last country in the entire commonwealth to still celebrate its national day on the date of British colonisation. Every other country has changed it - including New Zealand. Why?

Because all those other countries realised that none of the things that make their countries great today can be traced back to that date - or that other, better days supplanted it.

January 26 wasn’t the founding of our democracy, or the creation of our civil rights. It was not even the foundation of our national government, which didn’t appear until January 1, 1901. Most of the people who landed that day were working class prisoners who had only slightly better legal and political rights than the local Aboriginal people who died of Smallpox and violence.

The date is simply the anniversary of the original act of land theft and dispossession by the British.

I’ve never wanted to fly our flag, which contains the British flag still on it, on that day.

In New Zealand, they also, like us, held their national day on the anniversary of British colonisation, until they realised that was insensitive and changed it to Waitangi Day all the way back in the 1930s.

Instead of taking the same noble path, we doubled down on the stupidity. Most Australian states didn’t even celebrate Australia Day until the 1980s. It was only celebrated in NSW. They got dragged along when Bob Hawke and later John Howard wanted to make a big deal of the bicentenary and national identity.

When we become a republic it should be changed to the date of the proclamation of or full independence from the monarchy.

"The biggest systematic genocide in world history"??

Was surely when the Spanish and Portuguese wiped out much of the indigenous population of South and Central America.. I don't suppose millennials know much about history, though.

I actually couldn't care what day its on, but change the day and we are still celebrating the same thing, only thing that will happen is the do gooders will then want to abolish Australia day maybe replace it with something that  has meaning to Aboriginals.

There were about 1000 protesters in Brisbane on Australia day, pretty sure there were 1000 times that celebrating the day

We've been giving in to the demands of minorities lately and really that has to stop, I growing rather tired of having to check myself so as not to offend someone. 

I'd like to see Australia Day turned into a long weekend. Make it either Friday public holiday or Monday public holiday, depending which day is closest to the 26th. 

It's better then having Tuesday off then back to work again on Wednesday, and from an employers' perspective it's better than having Aus day fall on a Thursday then a mass of workers conveniently pulling a sickie on Friday.

Yet even doing this, the same people jumping up and down and wanting to "burn Australia to the ground" will move on to wanting to change the flag/ the anthem and basically anything else that goes against the grand vision of their thought leaders...

 I'd like to see Australia Day turned into a long weekend. Make it either Friday public holiday or Monday public holiday, depending which day is closest to the 26th. 

It's better then having Tuesday off then back to work again on Wednesday, and from an employers' perspective it's better than having Aus day fall on a Thursday then a mass of workers conveniently pulling a sickie on Friday.

Yet even doing this, the same people jumping up and down and wanting to "burn Australia to the ground" will move on to wanting to change the flag/ the anthem and basically anything else that goes against the grand vision of their thought leaders...

*Edit* cheers TSF

Biggest genocide in history? There'd be a few people in Europe and Africa who'd raise an eyebrow at that one...

And is anybody capable of self-determination actually triggered by a date?

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shock. some people don't like collective nouns used to describe them.  particularly ones that have been use to harm and deride them and their families.

How long until first nations is deemed racist and derogatory, and a new term is needed? The term ‘first’ has connotations of primordiality, which is closely related to the word primitive, which is bound to be accepted as offensive by some. Also ’first’ is derived from the German word furst, which means Prince, which has strong patriarchal, masculine, heteronormative, binary, misognynstic connotations, and is deeply dismissive of indgenous women and their excellecnet contributions to society. Expect a taxpayer funded Sydney University Phd course exploring the impact of patriarchal language on indigenous women social outcomes soon, and the findings to be the leading issue on q and a.Then theres the word ‘nations’ plural, which could be decoded as a white suprecmasicst plot to divide indigenous resolve and a precipitate a neo genocide of aboriginals and their culture.This is why Indigenous are suffering. How the fuck they gonna solve alcoholism, crime, child rape, domestic violence when they cant even figure out what to call themselves.

Trying to post images here is fucked.">
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Mate whatever.  I just want to use the correct term without pissing someone off inadvertently. 

But it does beg the question that if it was ok to say 'aboriginal' and then not, and then it was ok to say 'indigenous' and then not how long will it be before 'first nations' will be a term that's become offensive?

It's a ridiculous, goal post moving, war of semantics.

The issue with your premise is that you said Aboriginal wasn't ok to use and now it is. That's never been the case.

The issue with your premise is that you said Aboriginal wasn't ok to use and now it is. That's never been the case.

There are two problems with this "goal post moving, war of semantics" argument:
1. Language is constantly evolving and the terminology used for things change. It's not always because of the SJW PC brigade and causing offence.
2. Evidence is we're moving towards a point of consensus rather than flip flopping about. 

Anyway I'm not an expert at these things and no sane person expects the average joe working on engineering roads and bridges to get it 100% correct so why would they get pissed off inadvertently? 

Mate whatever.  I just want to use the correct term without pissing someone off inadvertently. 

But it does beg the question that if it was ok to say 'aboriginal' and then not, and then it was ok to say 'indigenous' and then not how long will it be before 'first nations' will be a term that's become offensive?

It's a ridiculous, goal post moving, war of semantics.

Mate whatever.  I just want to use the correct term without pissing someone off inadvertently. 

But it does beg the question that if it was ok to say 'aboriginal' and then not, and then it was ok to say 'indigenous' and then not how long will it be before 'first nations' will be a term that's become offensive?

It's a ridiculous, goal post moving, war of semantics.

I think you mean to say 'it really SHOULDN'T be that hard.'

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2015/08/why-saying-aborigine-isnt-ok-8-facts-about-indigenous-people-in-australia/
https://www.crikey.com.au/2012/08/15/indigenous-aboriginal-or-aborigine-its-not-black-and-white/

As for getting worked up about nothing (I'm not) shouldn't you be asking the perpetually outraged why they're getting so worked up about it?

Mate whatever.  I just want to use the correct term without pissing someone off inadvertently. 

But it does beg the question that if it was ok to say 'aboriginal' and then not, and then it was ok to say 'indigenous' and then not how long will it be before 'first nations' will be a term that's become offensive?

It's a ridiculous, goal post moving, war of semantics.

Agreed its not that hard. I notice that induction forms for some sites "are you of first nation descent" these days. 

"Indigenous/First nations" is easier than saying "aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander" anyway. 

It really isn't that hard.
There are 2 main distinct ethnic groups that for the people indigenous to the territories of Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. If you're talking about the Aboriginal people specifically, then using the term Aboriginal is fine. However when you're talking about more general issues at a national scale (i.e. things that affect both groups) then the full term "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, indigenous or first nations is more appropriate.

I don't think any reasonable person would be outraged if you used 3 of the 4 terms you used in your post in casual conversation, however you'd expect people in the media or politics to know which is most appropriate. Why get so worked up about it though?