G’day from Gary Gray AUSTRALIA’S AMBASSADOR IN IRELAND
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42 | THE IRISH SCENE
Australia Day is about the future and the past Last month, all of Australia was in celebration with the announcement our government has acquired copyright to the Australian Aboriginal flag so it can be used freely by all. Since it was first used in a demonstration in 1971, it has grown to become a symbol of indigenous unity and pride. This announcement came on the week we celebrate Australia Day and is fitting of the new and multifaceted nation we have become. Of course our journey has not been smooth sailing. On January 26th, 1788, Arthur Phillip arrived at what is now Sydney Cove, Australia and raised the national flag of the United Kingdom. In doing so, he founded the British colony of New South Wales and, at the same time, commenced the dispossession and marginalisation of Indigenous people who have occupied the land for at least 60,000 years. This is now, a sad and undisputed reality which it took much too long for the Australian people to acknowledge. During this time, many Indigenous people were removed from their traditional lands and stopped from practicing their language and culture by the burgeoning administration. This is an enduring hurt that still has consequences in modern Australia today.
It is understandable therefore why some Irish people in Australia and here in Ireland might wonder why our annual national celebration of Australia Day marks this occasion. When considering this question, it is important to recognise what we are celebrating and why. Though not everything is perfect in contemporary Australia, Australia ranks as one of the best countries to live in the world by international comparisons of wealth, education, health and quality of life. This is something we are and will continue to be proud of. As well as these very tangible measurements, Australia legislated to legalise samesex marriage in 2017 and continues to be one of the most multicultural societies in the world. Australians carry our weight and more in the great challenges of the world. We will meet and exceed our Paris Climate Targets for example, and we strongly support the net zero emissions by 2050 pledge made at COP26. More recently we have, and will continue to support our Pacific neighbours in their ongoing response to covid-19 by helping in the logistical distribution and donation of vaccines. These are achievements of our modern, strong and diverse
