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Thousands people took to the streets of Sydney on Sunday morning for Invasion Day, marking 237 years of British colonisation on this continent.
Indigenous communities and allies came together at Belmore Park in Haymarket, before marching through the city to Yabun Festival at Victoria Park.
Protestors began with a minute’s silence, followed by a traditional dance performance.
Speakers took to the stage, where they paid tribute to the Elders that came before them, demanded justice for Black lives lost to police violence and inaction, and shared their hopes and concerns for the future.
Bundjalung Widubul-Wiabul lawyer and Commissioner for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, addressed the crowd with her toddler beside her.
“There is a war where we are forcibly removing our children at higher rates than we’ve ever seen before,” she said. “I sat in a courtroom just last Friday, and watched an elder, a grandmother, of Coota [Cootamundra girls home], come in to be with her grandson, who was also forcibly removed.
“How do we have a grandmother and a grandson with nothing changing in the middle?”
There was heavy police presence as protesters made their way through the CBD, with a spokesperson telling the Sydney Morning Herald that officers were going to use “proactive policing strategies”.
“The NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly,” they said.
“The first priority for NSW Police is always the safety of the public.”
Albanese and Dutton share Australia Day messages
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed crowds in Canberra at the national citizenship ceremony.
“Here we acknowledge the fullness and richness of our history, but what unites us as Australians is our common commitment,” he said.
“Whether we are a part of the oldest continuous living culture on earth or whether we are people who are becoming citizens today, we all share that vision, as Australians, of a fair country a country in which people can fulfil their opportunity make a better life for themselves and their families.
“It’s inspiring to be able to reflect, but also to celebrate everything that we have created as a country.”
Opposition leader Petter Dutton wished his followers a “very happy Australia Day” in a video posted to social media.
“Australia Day is a celebration of the greatest country in the world, and we shouldn’t be afraid of celebrating it,” he said.
“The defining achievement has been the weaving together of the Indigenous, British and migrant threads of our story.
“We have every reason to be patriotic and proud today. Let’s celebrate the achievement of Australia, under one flag. From my family to yours, have a very happy Australia Day.”
Organisers at the Invasion Day rally in Sydney called for increased scrutiny of politicians in the lead up to the federal election.
“We’ve got racists hiding behind a sheet that claim they only want to unite Australia. Well, if they wanted to unite Australia, they would give us our sacred lands back, and not try to hide us like some CEO’s mistress,” they said.
“To Peter Dutton and his favourite frolic of socialite boyfriends. We got your message- we will not be silent, we will stand here and march, just as we’ve done time immemorial.”
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