Essential Report
National Day
Q. It has been suggested that Australia should have a separate national day to recognise Indigenous Australians. Do you…?
Jan ‘20 | Jan’19 | Oct ‘18 | |
Support a separate day and keep Australia Day | 32% | 37% | 36% |
Support a separate day to replace Australia Day | 18% | 15% | 14% |
NET: Support a separate day | 50% | 52% | 50% |
Do not support a separate day | 40% | 40% | 37% |
Don’t know | 11% | 8% | 12% |
Base (n) | 1,080 | 1,652 |
Total | Labor | Liberal + National | Greens | NET: Other | |
Support a separate day and keep Australia Day | 32% | 38% | 28% | 32% | 32% |
Support a separate day to replace Australia Day | 18% | 20% | 12% | 42% | 9% |
NET: Support a separate day | 50% | 58% | 40% | 73% | 42% |
Do not support a separate day | 40% | 29% | 54% | 15% | 53% |
Don’t know | 11% | 13% | 6% | 12% | 5% |
Base (n) | 1,080 | 351 | 342 | 110 | 156 |
- Support for a separate day to recognise Indigenous Australians (either in place, or alongside Australia Day) has decreased 2%pts from last year, from 52% to 50%.
- 32% support including a separate national day with a further 18% supporting a replacement of Australia Day.
- Support for a separate day was highest among Greens (73%) and Labor (58%) voters.
Total | Aged 18-34 | Aged 35-54 | Aged 55+ | |
Support a separate day and keep Australia Day | 32% | 41% | 32% | 25% |
Support a separate day to replace Australia Day | 18% | 24% | 18% | 11% |
NET: Support a separate day | 50% | 65% | 50% | 36% |
Do not support a separate day | 40% | 21% | 37% | 57% |
Don’t know | 11% | 14% | 13% | 6% |
Base (n) | 1,080 | 330 | 374 | 376 |
- Support for a separate day was highest among those aged 18-34, with 65% support. Support was at 50% support among 35-54 year olds and 36% among those aged over 55.

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In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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