“The silent majority is not so silent anymore, with 69 per cent of Australians declaring Australia Day should be celebrated on the 26th of January. This result is a major repudiation of the elites who continually seek to divide and denigrate our nation,” said Daniel Wild, Deputy Executive Director of the Institute of Public Affairs.
The poll of 1,002 Australians, undertaken by marketing research firm Dynata, found 69 per cent of respondents agreed with the statement ‘Australia Day should be celebrated on January 26′, this is up from 63 per cent 12 months ago. Just 14 per cent disagreed (down 3 per cent).
“This year’s poll results show that following the divisive Voice to Parliament referendum, as well as the Woolworths saga, mainstream Australian no longer fear the elites, and are now not afraid to loudly speak up for our country and our shared values,” said Mr Wild.
“Australians are seeing before their eyes the decline of social cohesion on our streets and in our communities. Religious and ethnic division, formerly so foreign to our nation, is now seen regularly on our city streets and university campuses.”
“Uniting around our national day and our national flag reminds Australians that there is far more that unites us than divides us. This is vital if we are to regain our sense of community,” said Mr Wild.
Consistent with last year’s results, the poll also found that 86 per cent (down 1 per cent) of respondents were proud to be an Australian, just 4 per cent disagreed (unchanged). When asked if Australia has a history to be proud of, 68 per cent agreed (down 1 per cent) with 13 per cent disagreeing (down 2 per cent).
“In the recent past, every January, Australians have needed to endure the hand-wringing and navel-gazing of the self-appointed thought leaders and elites demanding we think of the reasons to be ashamed of Australia. No more,” said Mr Wild.
“It is clear that mainstream Australians have had a gutful of this attitude and being put upon by the elites. They know Australia is the greatest nation on earth, that our way of life and freedoms are the envy of the world, and that they must be cherished and celebrated.”
Encouraging, the poll showed a jump in support for Australia Day to be celebrated on the 26th of January from 18–24-year-olds, up 10 per cent to 52 per cent.
“It should give the entire community great hope that despite relentless indoctrination taking place at schools and universities, young Australians are growing in civic pride. This should be encouraged and celebrated,” said Mr Wild.
“However, despite just 14 per cent of Australians wanting Australia Day on the 26th of January cancelled, this has not stopped the continued campaign of the political class and elites to denigrate and cancel our national day.”
“It is a salient reminder that if we do not continue to fight for Australia Day, we will lose it. The 26th of January is more than just a date, it represents the establishment of modern Australia as a free and fair country. Attempts to cancel it are an assault on the Australian way of life,” said Mr Wild.
To download the IPA’s Australia Day poll click here.
