When is the Australian Independence Day?

Answer 1

There is no such thing as Australian Independence Day; however, there is 'Australia Day' which is Australia's official national day and is celebrated on the 26th January. It commemorates the landing of the First Fleet in Sydney Cove on that day in 1788.

Also, Anzac Day has always been special to Australians, sometimes more so than Australia Day. Apart from recognising the people who served in war, it also represents the first time that Australia was recognised in its own right on the world sphere - although it should be noted that Australia was not fighting for itself, it was fighting for the British Empire.

A Further Opinion

There is a certain irony: Australia Day on the 26 January is considered Australia's National Day and it does mark the day that the British began a settlement in Australia, which was founded on convicts - and it was also the time that Australia's indigenous people began to lose their own land. But ' Australia ' was not at the time called Australia - it was New South Wales and it was not an independent nation: it was a part of the British Empire.

The actual date that Australia became an Independent Nation was on the 3rd March 1986 when all legal jurisdiction over any part of Australia by the British Nation ceased. Oddly this date is not generally recognised or celebrated at all in Australia, as Australia had gained much independence with Federation in 1901.

Further, January 26th was NSW Foundation Day. In 1946, other states & territories also adopted this day, but now all called it 'Australia Day'. I think it makes more sense and logic to hold 'Australia Day' on March 3rd.

Federation

Having our own constitution in 1901 was the beginning of nationhood. Although Australia wasn't legally independent, it was politically independent from its very beginnings in 1901.

Statute of Westminster Act 1931

We weren't fully independent in 1931 (Statute of Westminster) again a simple test is the fact that Australian Troops returned from WWII in 1946 on British Passports.

Australian passports were temporarily introduced in 1949, but that didn't mean we are independent then either, but you certainly cannot claim to be an independent country without having your own passports.

Australia Act 1986

This act came into operation on March 3rd 1986. This was the final act that Australia needed to become a sovereign federal independent nation. Indeed, the High court of Australia later confirmed that the UK was now a foreign power.