Dr Syed Azim : Today, 26th of January, is Australia Day- the official national day of Australia. Australians are observing landing of the First Fleet in Port Jackson in 1788 and the raising of the British flag at Sydney by Mr Arthur Phillip.

This celebration aims to reflect the varied society and huge landscape of the nation. The date of 26 January 1788 marked the declaration of British control over the eastern seaboard of Australia.

There is a debate to celebrate this day as Australian Day. In 2004, The Herald Sun organised a news poll that asked if the date of Australia Day should be moved to one that is not associated with European settlement. 79% of respondents favoured no change, 15% favoured change, and 6% were uncommitted. In 2012 historian Geoffrey Blainey said that he believes 26 January worked well as Australia Day and that it was at that time more successful than it had ever been.

However, the date of Australia Day has been marked by Indigenous Australians the invasion of the land by the British and the start of colonisation. They refer to 26 January as Invasion Day, Survival Day, or Day of Mourning to observe it as a counter-celebration and advocate that the date should be changed.