Statement on January 26

Australia Day is an opportunity for all Australians to come together, reflect on our shared history, celebrate our diverse cultures, and strive for a future built on unity, understanding, and respect. Together we can celebrate what’s great about our nation.

The NBL is deeply committed to creating meaningful, significant, and lasting positive change for First Nations people.

As part of this ongoing journey, we aim to support and educate the broader community about the challenges faced throughout First Nations history and to acknowledge the collective role we all share in shaping the identity of our nation.

With this in mind, the NBL recognises that 26 January is a day of reflection for many Australians and not necessarily a day of celebration for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other communities. We stand in solidarity with people in our wonderful country who face difficult emotions on this day.