Australia Day is more than just a day off work and a public holiday. It is a celebration of who we are, where we’ve come from, and the values that unite us as Australians. It’s a day to proudly display our flag, enjoy a barbecue with friends and family, and reflect on what makes our nation great. Yet, in recent years, Australia Day has become a battleground, with those on the far left seeking to undermine its significance and tarnish our sense of national pride.
As I stand with friends on the deck of our holiday house, Hope Cottage Retreat in Warburton, looking out at Mount Victoria, the Yarra River, and the Australian bush, I’m reminded of why I’m so proud to call this country home. This small retreat and AirBnB, run by my family, is our little piece of paradise. It is a place where we can host visitors and retreats and share the beauty of our land. But even here, the cultural war over Australia Day has reached us.
A few days ago, my wife went into the local discount shop to purchase some Australia Day decorations. She picked up Australian flags to hang on our deck, tiny flags for toothpicks, a bow-tie for me, and other patriotic merchandise. The shop owner, however, revealed something shocking: when she displayed Australian flags in her store window this year, she faced threats from people who accused her of racism.
What sort of country do we live in when displaying our national flag, leading up to our national day, is considered offensive?
It doesn’t end there. A friend of mine, Daniella, had her two young adult sons, attended the Australia Day parade in Melbourne last year. They proudly carried Australian flags and were full of patriotic spirit. Yet, they were threatened with violence and even warned by authorities that they could face arrest if they didn’t put their flags away.
In response, particularly after our Premier, Jacinta Allan, cancelled the Australia Day Parade permanently, Daniella started a rally called Celebrate Australia. This wasn’t a political protest; it was a family-friendly event aimed at reclaiming Australia Day for what it should be – a joyful celebration of our nation, its people, and its values. We are the most successful multi-ethnic and multi-faith nation on earth so we have much to celebrate. The rally, which begins in Port Melbourne and ends in St Kilda, within sight of the Captain Cook statue, brings together Australians from all walks of life. Speakers from various faith communities and cultural backgrounds and conservative political parties come together to celebrate the values that unite us.
But where was the Liberal Party, the so-called party of Western principles and Judæo-Christian values? Nowhere to be seen.
In the United States, President Trump has brought about a revolution and a breath of fresh air, championing an unapologetic ‘America First’ agenda prioritising American jobs, industry, and values. He understands that a nation cannot thrive without pride in itself and confidence in its future. Australia’s leaders could learn a thing or two from that boldness. Mr Dutton?
It’s time for Australian leaders to adopt a ‘Proudly Australia First’ approach. This means prioritising Australian jobs, Australian entrepreneurs, Australian manufacturing, and genuinely Australian-made (and owned) products in government procurement and supply chains. It means standing up for Australian industry and backing the hardworking men and women who keep this country running.
Such a policy shift would be a game-changer for our economy and a statement of confidence in our future. Imagine the opportunities for Australian farmers, manufacturers, and small business owners if our government unapologetically supported them instead of bowing to globalist pressures.
But ‘Australia First’ is about more than just economics. It’s about reclaiming our identity and rejecting the creeping influence of the Woke ideologies that seek to divide us. The pendulum has swung too far to the Woke left, and we’re losing the cultural confidence that once defined us. We used to be the nation of the bronzed Aussie, full of ebullience and self-confidence.
Australia is still the lucky country, a nation of opportunity, built on the hard work and resilience of those who came before us. It’s a nation that has welcomed people from all over the world, united not by race (we are all one race, i.e. human), ethnic background, or religion but by shared values and a love for this great land. Those values – freedom, fairness, mateship and a belief in the dignity of hard work – are worth defending.
And so, on this Australia Day, I proudly flew my Australian flag on my deck of Hope Cottage in Warburton. I wore my Australia Day bow-tie and enjoyed a BBQ with my family and friends, knowing that I was part of something greater than myself. I also reflected on what kind of country I want my children to inherit.
Do we want an Australia where flying our national flag is seen as an act of defiance? Or do we want an Australia where patriotism is encouraged, even celebrated, where our leaders put our nation first, and where Australia Day is a day of unity and pride?
I believe we can reclaim Australia Day as our national day and revive national identity. Like Anzac Day, it might include some sombre reflections, a day where we need a hard chat about things we have done wrong, acknowledge some policies and actions and even attitudes in the past that were not all positive, but then we should unite and celebrate all that brings us together. As our great former Prime Minister used to remind us, what unites us is far stronger than what divides us. With the right leadership – leadership that isn’t afraid to stand up for Australian values – we can ensure that our children grow up in a country that values its history, acknowledges wrongs of the past, but celebrates its achievements, and looks to the future with confidence.
Mr Dutton, take note: the silent majority is waiting for a leader who will show visionary leadership and unapologetically champion a ‘Proudly Australia First’ agenda. Australia Day reminds us of what is at stake. Let’s not lose sight of the values that have made this nation great and may, we hope, again.
God bless Australia.