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Australia Day

opinion
opinion
Emma GarlettPremium
opinion
I am sick of the date debate too

The endless Australia Day discourse is infurating, tedious and so exhausting.

Emma Garlett

Emma Garlett

opinion
opinion
Bradley WoodsCommentsPremium
opinion
The Australia Day date debate doesn’t have to divide

Each year, as the date approaches, the question resurfaces: should we continue to celebrate on this day, or change it to avoid the pain it symbolises for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?

Bradley Woods

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Australia DayCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Aus Day: Councils poll West Aussies on divisive date debate

Perth councils are polling ratepayers on whether Australia Day celebrations should be moved as the divisive date debate is set to dominate nationally for another year. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

opinion
opinion
Lanna Hill Comments
opinion
Woolies’ Australia Day backflip case of corporate cowardice

Woolworths hit the headlines hard and early on the first day of 2025, confirming its backflip on Australia Day merchandise, both online and in-store.

Lanna Hill

Indigenous AustraliansPunters react to pub company’s controversial Aus Day ban

Australian Venue Co — which owns more than 20 WA venues including The Raffles Hotel, The Court and The Claremont Hotel — has apologised after telling its managers it was axing Australia Day celebrations.

Jessica Evensen and Simon Collins

NEWSPremiumPub giant’s Australia Day backflip

A major Australian pub owner had decided to ban Australia Day celebrations in its venues because it “causes sadness” for staff.

Blair Jackson, Ryan Bourke

Local GovernmentPremiumPerth council returns citizenship ceremony to Australia Day

A Perth council has returned its Australia Day citizenship ceremony to January 26, with at least one councillor admitting it would hurt the city’s Indigenous reference group.

Justin Bianchini and Erick Lopez

opinion
opinion
Kim MacdonaldCommentsPremium
opinion
Like or not, Halloween is now bigger than Australia Day

Sensitivities have changed across the nation over the years, and I won’t party on January 26 again. But you can give me the guilt-free sugar of Halloween any day.

Kim Macdonald

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumRocko council backflips on Australia Day after Jan 26 snub

On January 27 this year, it welcomed 99 new citizens in a citizenship ceremony and held a carnival on the foreshore.

Rachel Fenner

COUNCILPremiumGnowangerup Shire no longer hosting Aus Day festivities

A Great Southern shire will no longer host Australia Day festivities amid falling attendance, and out of respect for the local Noongar community.

Hannah Whitehead

CrimeFamily of accused terror teen move out over reprisals fear

The family of a teenager who allegedly stabbed a bishop and a priest during a terror attack at a church in Sydney’s west that triggered a riot has moved out of their home due to fears of reprisal attacks. 

Remy Varga

opinion
opinion
Robert Drewe CommentsPremium
opinion
Captain Cook and rewritten history

Poor old James Cook is in the news again, with his Melbourne statue ignominiously chopped off at the ankles as a protest against commemorating colonial figures.

Laura Newell

Laura Newell

Alternative dateCommentsPremiumAustralia Day event kicks off a day late in Perth’s south

As the Australia Day debate rages, some WA councils held their celebrations on Saturday, with Rockingham hosting a carnival on the foreshore.

Lauren Price

Tackling suicide CommentsPremium WA’s ‘chief of push-ups’ planning Canada challenge

WA’s Local Hero for 2024 Nick Hudson, who set up what is now Australia’s largest fitness-based mental health event, says an international expansion into Canada was the next big step. 

Dylan Caporn

updated
updated
Aus Day ordealComments
updated
Six injured as tree branches fall at Kings Park

With its panoramic view of the city skyline, Kings Park is one of the more popular locations to watch the annual Australia Day fireworks and drone show. But some spectators got more than just a great view.

Emily Moulton and Peta Rasdien

Huge turnoutVideoCommentsPremiumFamilies out in force for Australia Day fireworks and drones

Tens of thousands of families have gathered along the Swan River ahead of the Australia Day drone and fireworks show.

Claire Sadler

Hive of activityCommentsNo protests, just pro-boats at Mandurah’s Australia Day

Mandurah drew a huge crowd celebrating Australia Day with thousands taking to the water to make the most of the perfect weather.

Kasey Gratton

Opposition growsCommentsPremiumWA mayor says it’s time PM settled Australia Day argument

Joondalup Mayor Albert Jacobs said he wanted the Prime Minister to resolve the issue, rather than leaving it up to individual local governments. 

Jake Dietsch

Red graffitiPremium‘Invasion’: Iconic NSW memorial defaced

A well-known memorial to a British explorer who made a defining expedition through NSW has been defaced amid Australia Day protests all over the country.

Blake Antrobus

GalleryCamera IconPremium‘A sad, hard day’: Thousands rally for Invasion Day protest

Around 1000 protesters took to Forrest Place in Perth CBD on Friday to rally for Invasion Day. SEE THE PICTURES. 

Boat brawlVideoCommentsTraditional WA Aussie Day river raft-up turns ugly

The raft-up is a common sight on Australia Day on the Swan River - what’s uncommon are the ugly scenes that broke out in the water on Friday. 

Rachel Fenner

Better life CommentsPremiumPICTURED: WA hosts biggest Aus Day citizenship ceremony

WA hosted the biggest Australia Day citizenship ceremony in the country, with Premier Roger Cook saying the hundreds of new Australians proved the success of the State’s multiculturalism.

Jake Dietsch

‘So proud’CommentsPremiumMigrants-turned-Aussie citizens lap up Aus Day ceremonies

Hundreds of migrants have marked officially becoming Australians at a citizenship ceremony on South Perth’s foreshore, celebrating the momentous moment with none other than a barbeque and a snag.

Lauren Price

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Date debateCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Damaging statues ‘un-Australian’, say Perth rally organisers

Perth’s Invasion Day rally organisers have cautioned West Aussies against defacing statues of colonial figures, like those targeted in the eastern states.

Caitlyn Rintoul