Daily London
Thousands of people are expected to rally in cities around Australia today, with Invasion Day events scheduled across the country.
January 26, the day Governor Arthur Phillip ran up the British flag at Sydney Cove, is officially Australia Day, but many around the country mark the date as “Invasion Day”, recognising the dispossesion of Indigenous Australians.
The exclusion zone that was recently imposed in Melbourne’s CBD, also following the Bondi attack, will not be in place today.
“There will be a highly visible police presence throughout the CBD, with a number of traffic management points in place,” Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill told 9news.com.au.
He said police had been engaging “constructively” with protest organisers.
Some counter-marches are also anticipated.
Recent polls, including from Resolve and Roy Morgan, indicate that support for keeping Australia Day on January 26 is rising.
Roy Morgan found that 72 per cent of respondents agreed Australia Day should retain its current name and date, compared to 28 per cent who disagreed.
“This is the highest support for Australia Day recorded by Roy Morgan,” chief executive Michele Levine said.
“There is majority support for Australia Day retaining its name and date across all age groups, genders, and all states.”
However, there remains a political divide, with most Labor and Greens voters saying the date should be changed, while Liberal, National, and One Nation voters hugely supported it.
