Statement by Desmond Campbell, CEO – Welcome to Country January 2026

Today, as Australia prepares once again to mark January 26, I speak not merely as CEO of Welcome to Country but as a proud First Nations man borne of this land, its long histories, its stories, and its wounds. For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, this date is not a celebration. It is a day of survival and sorrow — a reminder of invasion, dispossession, and the ongoing legacy of colonial violence that has shaped our people’s lived experience for generations. Celebrating on January 26 continues to reopen wounds many of us carry deeply in our communities.

The conversation about changing the date of Australia Day — or rethinking how this day is recognised — is not about rejecting Australia. It is about truth-telling, respect, and inclusion. It is about acknowledging that this nation’s story did not begin in 1788, but hundreds of generations before. Australians from all walks of life are asking the same question: Can a national day truly unite us if it is rooted in pain for so many?

We support efforts that centre First Nations voices in this important dialogue — including the Not a Date to Celebrate movement and proposals like the Australia Long Weekend, which offer a path toward a shared national moment that avoids the trauma associated with January 26. These ideas are not the end point of our aspirations for reconciliation, but they are steps toward greater understanding and unity. An Australia Long Weekend, proposed to fall on the second-last Monday in January each year, would create space for celebration, reflection, and coming together — without the harm caused by commemorating the anniversary of colonisation.

Real change will not come from slogans or symbolic gestures alone. It will come through education, listening, and partnership — learning from history with humility, supporting First Nations leadership in defining what national celebration looks like, and investing in initiatives that foster equity and respect. This means moving beyond tokenistic acknowledgment towards genuine engagement with the structural injustices that persist today.

We invite all Australians to join this journey: to learn with open hearts, to amplify First Nations voices, and to imagine an Australia day — or long weekend — that does not leave anyone behind. In doing so, we honour both the history of these lands and the future we can build together.

Let us shift the narrative from division to understanding. Let us be guided by respect. Let us shape a national day worthy of all who call this country home.

Desmond Campbell – CEO – Welcome to Country
Jangala / Gojok
Gurindji and Alawa

For Further Information and to Support Please Visit:
Australia Long Weekend – For Everyone
Clothing The Gaps - Not A Date To Celebrate Campaign