As January 26 approaches, a number of Australian celebrities are beginning to speak out against the day and what many Australians believe it represents.
WATCH: Pat Cash says he won’t be celebrating Australia Day
January 26, or Australia Day, is a national public holiday (now often referred to as Invasion Day or Survival Day) which commemorates the landing of the First Fleet in Australia.
However, a vocal movement from the Indigenous community and their allies have been asking for years for the date to be changed, given the day is also seen to symbolise the beginning of years of systemic racism and oppression of First Nations people.
READ ALSO: Important TV shows and documentaries to watch on Invasion Day
Many local celebrities have been vocal about the cause, sharing their thoughts on the nation-wide celebrations on social media. Here are some of the celebrities speaking out against celebrations on the 26th in 2022.
Ben Lawson
Australian actor Ben Lawson made his frustration with the day known on Monday, taking to Instagram to re-post a poem he wrote and performed on social media last year.
The video, captioned ‘The 26th of January: A poem for Australia Day ❤️💛🖤’, features Ben speaking the three-minute poem to the camera. Lines like ‘We know the drill, things went downhill when white men first arrived, don’t focus on the bad bits though, it’s just some genocide,” made his strong feelings about the day known.
You can watch his poem below.
Brooke Blurton
The most recent Bachelorette is a vocal advocate against January 26 and what it represents. A Noongar-Yamatji woman, Brooke began to share posts in opposition to the day earlier this week.
Also taking to her stories, Brookes shared a video from Dalara Williams encapsulating a range of footage of Indigenous Australians throughout the last few decades, overlayed with the voices of Indigenous people speaking about the unfair way they have been treated.
Brooke also shared a caption on a post written by human rights activist Nessa Turnbull Roberts, who shared an image of herself at an Invasion Day rally.
“January 26th It’s political, it’s personal, it’s Collective and it’s one of the most horrific days for our nation,” she wrote.
“Show up on the right side of history and truth,” she encouraged people.
Brooke also took to Instagram again on the eve of the 26th with kind words encouraging her fellow mob to take care of themselves in the lead up to the day.
“Tomorrow is a big day for us. A day of anxiousness, pain, mourning. Self care is priority tonight.”
Matty J
Beloved former Bachelor Matty J made an Instagram Reel on Tuesday making his feelings on January 26 very clear.
Using the popular soundbite from Sesame Street, he pointed out the public holidays he enjoys – like Easter, and ANZAC Day, with January 26 coming up to align with the negative part of the dialogue, where Elmo is forced to say hello to Rocco.
He captioned the reel ‘Can’t wait till they change the date #invasionday’, and went on to defend his stance in the comments.
WATCH BELOW: Matty J makes his feelings on January 26 known
Osher Gunsberg
Television host Osher Gunsberg has also made his feelings known about January 26, but mostly by saying nothing at all.
Instead, he handed the reins of his Instagram over to Gomeroi woman Amy Thunig, an education academic whom Osher met when she came on the show to support Brooke Blurton.
Amy uploaded an introductory video, explaining what she hoped to achieve while running his account, which Osher captioned with his thoughts on the day.
“I’m an immigrant, a citizen, and I love this country with all of my heart. The life this nation has given me and my family wouldn’t have happened anywhere else on this planet. And just because life here is excellent for most of us doesn’t mean it can’t be excellent for all of us,” Osher penned.
“We can do better. We have to do better. I feel that starts with learning about where we are, and how we got to now.
“I truly believe that by getting to know one another, together we can find a better way for us all to face the challenge of the future as one.”
WATCH BELOW: Amy Thunig takes over Osher’s Instagram on January 26
Jesinta Franklin
Jesinta Franklin is often very vocal on social media when it comes to the rights of Indigenous people, given that her husband, Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin is a Noongar-Wajuk man, making her kids half Indigenous as well.
She took to Instagram with a short message yesterday, writing “There’s no excuse for anyone in this country not to know why tomorrow, 26th January, is a hurtful day to celebrate “Australia Day”. If you are still unaware, I have linked some useful slides that I hope you take the time to read.”
She went on to share a few posts from Rachael Sarra, Nessa Turnbull-Roberts, and more.
Maria Thattil
Miss Universe Australia and recent contestant in the I’m A Celeb jungle, Maria Thattil, has also made her feelings known in an Instagram post.
Sharing two painted images – one of the Indigenous flag, and one reading ‘Just a reminder we don’t celebrate genocide’ – Maria also wrote a short caption to explain her stance.
“It’s a privilege to live on First Nations land – but of all the days to celebrate it, today marks the beginning of trauma, oppression, violence and genocide. It is not the day to celebrate, it’s a day to speak up. #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #ChangeTheDate 🖤💛❤️.”
Meyne Wyatt
Indigenous actor Meyne Wyatt wrote at length on his Instagram, sharing his thoughts on the day, which he believes should be abolished.
Sharing a picture of himself in front of a painting of the Indigenous flag on the side of a building, Meyne wrote lines like “to say invasion is anything other than it is, is gaslighting. the day and the nation needs to be abolished,” and “I know that makes some of you s*** yourselves but abolition addresses structural racism in a definitive way.”
“Without addressing systemic racism or economic inequality there will always be resistance. That is why the Aboriginal Tent Embassy has been one of the longest running protests in the world – 50 years,” he shared.
“Australia is exploitation of land without compensation. The colonies worldwide are to blame for climate change,” he added definitively.
Meyne shot into the public consciousness in 2020 when he performed a monologue from the play, ‘City of Gold’, on an episode of Q&A, which you can watch below.
Miranda Tapsell
New mum Miranda Tapsell also shared some thoughts on the day by drawing her followers’ attention to an article written by Mililma May, entitled ‘Rest as Resistance‘.
“Incredibly proud of my staunch cousin @_ngabuluk writing a wonderful article for @indigenousx 😍🥰 I’m in awe of the person you’ve become. You keep the fire in me alive on difficult days like this ✊🏾,” Miranda wrote.
The article explained the very real exhaustion felt by Indigenous people when it comes to protesting January 26 celebrations, especially after COVID-19 shone a further light on the inequality still faced by First Nations People.
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