Before I kick off this thread, I want to make it clear this is not a political statement on Australia Day, this is an idea for a compromise that I believe, from a purely pragmatic stand point might help solve this issue.

I have a lot of mates that love Australia Day, for some it's their favourite holiday of the yr. It's at the peak of summer, about 3 weeks after the Xmas silly season, there's cricket and tennis on TV, and a host of recent traditions that are now synonymous with that time of year

The mistake we are making is assuming that the reason these people are resisting the date change is political. I genuinely don't think the bulk of these people care what happened on 26th Jan, they just like the day now.

We can't underestimate the extent to which people will simply not want to give up something they like, especially if they're largely apolitical as most people are. So how about we give them a way to largely keep the thing they like AND take a small step to reconciliation.

Now we can judge them for that apathy, but away from Twitter, they are a huge demographic you need on board if we want to change the date.

Waiting to change all their minds of the moral imperative to give their Day up regardless will take a lot longer.

This is why I cringe when people suggest moving Australia Day to almost winter dates of May 8, or June, and 1st Jan?? (do none of you go out NYE?).

The things people love about the day just aren't there. You're asking them to give it up.

This is why I believe any change needs to be a comparable date. My suggestion is to simply make it the last Monday in January.

This way it is no longer commemorating any particular date, it is celebrating the Australia Day most people today have grown up with.

I also hope this would prevent the creation of a right wing rallying day on the 26th.

I have real worries that this would become something of a "Patriots Day", basically an annual Cronulla Riots.

But not if the holiday is still only a few days either side.

It would seperate those that are resisting #ChangeTheDate for political reasons and those that just really like the day and give the latter an easy avenue to be open to change

It won't win over everyone, but you'll find a sizeable chunk will shrug the shoulders and say "yeah ok"

To put it simply, this is a compromise. Now I understand asking for compromise after the last 250 years is a bit rich, but this is how I foresee getting people on board.

Consider it my insight into the minds of the demographic that I believe has the best chance of being swayed.

I ran this past some Indigenous friends whose opinion I trust, but I respect First Nations People are not some politically and ideologically homogeneous movement, so I totally respect many might have good cause to reject this idea out of hand.

This is just my idea.

I'll also just add that the Queen's Birthday could easily be traded in for a day of Indigenous significance.

That's a no brainer.