Australia Day Debate Hardens in Latest Survey

Deakin University’s Deakin Contemporary History Survey, conducted in 2021, 2023, 2024 and a late‑2025 wave, found that 37–38% of respondents oppose moving Australia Day from January 26, while 62% support keeping it. Though overall numbers remain stable, the intensity of opposition has intensified: those strongly disagreeing rose from 30% in 2021 to 38% in 2025, while simple disagreement fell from 31% to 26%. Across age groups, strong disagreement increased from 16% (18‑34) to 23%, from 40% (55‑74) to 47%, and from 47% (75+) to 53%. Gender trends mirrored this hardening, with men rising from 36% to 41% and women from 25% to 33%. Only 48% support renaming places to reflect Indigenous histories, reflecting broader reluctance after the 2023 Voice referendum’s failure.