“The decision by Cricket Australia to not only schedule games on Australia Day again, but to commit to playing the national anthem, is further proof that the woke attacks on our national symbols are running out of steam,” said Morgan Begg, Director of Research at the Institute of Public Affairs.
Cricket Australia has been forced into a humiliating backdown, announcing it would allow Australia’s National Anthem to be sung at the Australia Day cricket match in 2027.
“Why on earth Cricket Australia ever tried to cancel the singing of Australia’s National Anthem is just another example of how pathetic, weak, and woke our once respected sporting body has become,” Mr Begg said.
“Simply put, heads must roll over Cricket Australia’s latest attempt to divide Australians.
“26 January is rightly celebrated by mainstream Australians who are proud of their country and its history, despite elitist attempts to turn it into a day of shame.
“For too long our national anthem has been sidelined to placate activists engaging in a broader attack on Australia’s history.
“At a time of declining social cohesion, our shared national symbols remind us that there should be more that unites is than divides us.”
Recent polling commissioned by the Institute of Public Affairs found:
- 76 per cent of Australians believed Australia Day should be celebrated on 26 January, with 75 per cent agreeing that Australia has a history to be proud of.
- 76 per cent believe that the National Anthem unites Australians
- 71 per cent of Australians believe the National Anthem should be performed at public events instead of welcome to country ceremonies.
You can read the IPA’s polling here and Morgan Begg’s research essay on the National Anthem here.
