Posted inNational

Opinion: It’s the shared bonds that are our nation’s greatest strength

Credit: Anthony Albanese Facebook

The great gift of Australia Day is that it gives us the perfect opportunity to come together to celebrate everything that unites us as a nation and makes us the best country on earth.

We look back on the fullness and richness of our history, recognising our extraordinary privilege in sharing this continent with the world’s oldest continuous culture in all its wisdom and resilience.

We celebrate the nation that Australians have strengthened in peace and defended in war. A nation built with care and compassion, aspiration and determination. A nation whose strong heart beats with courage, kindness and that abiding Australian instinct for fairness.

And with a confidence underwritten by all that we have already achieved as a nation, we also look forward to the future we want for the next generation of Australians. Because central to our national identity is our collective responsibility and our shared commitment to pass on a stronger and fairer country to those who will follow us.

This year also marks 125 years of our coming together as a commonwealth. It was a choice made in peace, freedom and in the truest spirit of democracy as Australians chose to face the world together, recognising that our security and our prosperity were best served by unity. Emphatically and enthusiastically, they grasped the truth that we are better and stronger together. That this decision was arrived at the way it was is something that has always resonated profoundly with who we are as a country. While we sometimes imagine ourselves as a young nation on an ancient continent, Australia is among the world’s oldest and strongest modern democracies.

From the outset, we’ve done things our way. Our new Federation was one of the first countries in the world where women had the right to vote in elections and run for parliament. That reflects both our instinct for fairness and, just as importantly, our understanding that our democracy, our society and our economy are stronger when we draw on the talents of all our citizens. For all the extraordinary abundance of resources with which Australia is blessed, the greatest is our people.

That is a thread running through our Australian story. Every time our nation has acted to break down barriers of discrimination or disadvantage, every time we have expanded the fair go to include more Australians, every time we have worked to strengthen our national unity, we have all gained from it.

We are all lucky to call Australia home, whether you’re Australian by birth or by choice, whether your ancestors have loved and cared for this land for 65,000 years or whether you’re joining our Australian family at citizenship ceremonies across our nation today, pledging your loyalty to our people, our values and our democracy.

Yet this country we love and everything we have achieved together is not the result of luck. It has been built and secured by people working together and caring for each other in the Australian way.

That is the spirit that holds us together in the face of every challenge. From the evil of terrorism to the devastation of natural disasters, the worst of times brings out the best in Australians. Let us look to the year ahead united by pride in our country, faith in each other and optimism for the future we can build together.

I wish you all a happy Australia Day.

Originally published in The Australian.


Got something on your mind? Go on then, engage. Submit your opinion piece, letter to the editor, or Quick Word now.

Share

Join the Conversation

268 Comments

    1. David Good so the Libs & Nats are going to kiss, make up & miraculously.move away from EXTREMIST politiking?
      One Nation – the party that eats its own suddenly becomes a functional political party?
      So want to see Hanson have the guts to try for a lower house seat.

      1. Oh but it’s not the electorate that will knock them out. The threat is internal for one and a funding allegation for the other. Neither will face the next election in their current position.

      2. Maya Richardson it actually doesn’t, but you can live in a dream world. It won’t take much traction for the LNP and it’ll be closer than you think.

      1. Michael Ross Woolworths, Wesfarmers, Coles, Ramsey Health. I could go on and on all multibillion dollar public companies and the biggest employers and probably give money to support starving children. The multibillion dollar private businesses are Hancock Prospecting, Visy, 7-eleven and all the rest would have their own charities.

        1. I think Michael Ross is referring to tax loopholes for the wealthy. And you Bevan are saying that it is the billionaires who supply jobs. However, saying “without billionaires, who would employ people?” is a false argument — especially when we’re talking about children living in poverty. Jobs don’t come from extreme wealth hoarding; they come from demand, public investment, small businesses, educators, health workers and communities. Children don’t need billionaires to survive — they need food, housing, healthcare and decent early education. No child has ever been lifted out of poverty by a tax loophole. They’re lifted out by fair wages, strong public services and governments that choose kids over concentrated wealth.

      2. Bevan Moore Woolies and Coles got busted for wage theft, and pay close to zero tax. The donations they give are made with customers’ money, which they then claim as tax deductions. Time to start paying attention.

      3. Michael Ross So what they are still the largest employers. By the way the profit they make is from customers money, and you don’t get a deduction without spending the money first. Do you understand ? Where do you work ?

      4. Bevan Moore When they ask you to ‘round up to donate’ they’re donating other people’s money to create a tax deduction for themselves. It’s not charity at all.

    1. Michael Ross 2 billion to ukraine nothing at all to do with Australia.
      Happy to fund 1 billion to a gun buyback. Realy WTAF

      1. Maya Richardson open your eyes. How many homeless people are turning up to shelters. How many are living in cars Right here in Australia

      2. Jenny Fitzpatrick The homeless situation isn’t Albanese fault, this has been building for 15 to 20 years. Previous governments haven’t built enough houses.

      3. Maya Richardson and the current one is bring in too many immigrants without the housing infrastructure to accommodate them Cost of living power bills has skyrocketed Even many of those working are living week to week.

    1. Gerry Hilderson They have both spent their time as “leaders” dividing this country. I had hope for Minns, but he’s just another Labor flog.

    2. What did the lnp do while they were in govt ????

      As a disillusioned sheep and cattle farmer who doesn’t support either side of politics period.

  1. This clown has done nothing but divide this once beautiful country. Starting with the yes vote. Now taking away our right for freedom of speech

    1. Sandra Avdyl We each have the right to speak freely. What we must never be allowed, is a right to say nasty, hurtful things, aimed at minority groups, usually unfounded and ill-informed. Such hurtful speak is not Australian.

      1. John Dabroski no they demanded to do something about what caused Bondi to happen. Not a knee-jerk reaction of gun laws and taking away our freedom of speech

      2. Diane Phillips yes I spelt wrong. Are you aware the yes vote was Scomo. He started it You are so poor of memory. Dutton stabbed him in the back. Then typically flip flopped just.like the hate speech. Libs demanded it.

    2. Sandra Avdyl A locked profile troll complaining about her lack of freedom of speech yet at the same time free to insult and lie all she can!

    3. Sandra Avdyl the Voice called for understanding, acknowledgement and unity..not division. If opposition had not spread misinformation and division it could have succeeded. Politics in play. As for freedom of speech we still have it. There is a big difference in stating a view and inciting hatred. Most of us know the difference.

      1. Janet Olsson The Voice didn’t call for anything. It was never outlined. Never explained. It was smoke and mirrors. All it did was create division and hatred. The result spoke for itself

      2. Jenny Fitzpatrick the results show a successful LNP campaign. Such an important issue should have had bi partisan support. The LNP voted for the Referendum then tore it apart. People bought the Division ads and “if you dont know vote No”..instead of researching it. When it was first announced most people polled supported it. I dont think all Australians are racist. But I think it fair to say 20 percent are. When you take that figure into account alone without those who didnt know or believed the rhetoric..the 40 plus Yes vote was pretty high. And we are still here.

      3. Janet Olsson the Labor Government never answered a question or detailed how it would work. So why would you vote for something that didn’t provide the facts. Just asking for the over 40’s plus. Maybe we somewhere along the line have learned to read the fine print

    4. Sandra Avdyl they haven’t taken away freedom of speech! They have taken away vilifying groups without consequences

  2. Minns will be welcome back in Israel whenever he wants to celebrate genocide with his Zionist friends there

    1. Robbie Dolshead I think you will find the research was about building social cohesion & whether changing the date would help

      1. Monica Wilcox it won’t matter what date they choose. There will always be be a group that disagrees. So leave it as it is

      2. Like the yes or no vote that was definitive and they’re talking about doing it again? I think you’ll find that Albo is a tosser and if the election was held again today he’d get smashed. He’s a leftie wanker who isn’t in touch with the Australian people.

      1. Are you sure that’s what he’s doing and he’s not funding them to invade ?
        Wouldn’t be the first time he’s committed treason and it’s def something a communist would do. (Which he has been since his uni days)

    2. Robbie Dolshead wasn’t it the LNP that paid 600 million for car parks that didn’t exist or ten million on a logo change that didn’t need changing. Or 10 times the value of a block of land or millions on the corvid app that didn’t locate one case of the virus. Yet you complain about 1.5 million.

  3. Fair Go – you used unvetted and fraudulent immigration processes and out of control immigration to gain vote’s meanwhile rorting tax payers dollars on luxury holidays and restaurants. Failed to protect the citizens of Australia because you defunded our intelligence agencies, ignored advice, allowed 2 years of continuous radical ideology behaviour threatening to kill Australians, rallies with hatred, flag burning, war memorial desecration, $68 million spent on returning terroist ISIS BRIDES, $27 million dollars on an Islamic Council with no financial auditing on where the money went, continual support of not revoking the 90 year suppression order on the WOOD ROYAL COMMISSION list of child trafficking naming 29 politicians including a PM, Issued a firearms licence to a terror suspect that lead to a bloodbath and a failure to deal with the root cause. “FAIR GO” – you continue to sell out our resources for SFA, sell our assets to your CCP mates and lower the standard of living from exorbitant energy prices (foreign owned)out of control immigration that caused a housing and rental crisis, dodgy rezoning that some of your Labor mates are still in jail. “ Fair Go” you continue to extremely rort fees of small business owners for over regulated compliance BS to justify your out of control public service jobs that produce no value what so ever. Your ministers with portfolios clueless on the subject or industry that have no real life business experience continually holding back progress and at huge cost to businesses.

    1. Mike Beresford you’re using someone who has had a business bankrupted because of attempted fraud to make a point? Hahahaha.

      1. Who cares.This is the issue with Albanese,like it or hate it.Its not about what you’re talking about.

    1. Dave Woods thanks to Rupert Murdoch’s media relentless, anti Labor blitzkrieg. However, It’s backfired as most intelligent people can spot the BS. Labor are going to defeat the conservatives in elections for the next decade.

    2. Dave Woods that because the likes of oligarchs Rinehart & Murdoch have invested a LOT in orchestrated politicking

  4. They both did a lot in the past 2 years, just nothing good for the people they have been trusted to look out for. They have lied, stole, embezzled, touted themselves, made illegal to criticise
    Absolute scum bags should be goaled

  5. Shared bonds and fair go?
    Is that where they told their MP not to post happy Australia day so as not to offended an minority?
    Is that the fair go they are talking about?
    Is that the unity they are talking about?

    TIME HAS COME PEOPLE, VOTE THEM OUT!

      1. Ken Allen, reality, 34% to 28%.
        The 94 seats is after all the backroom deals took place, 34% is the reality.

      2. Steve Lamb ask your kids how the preferential system works,and also get him/her to check first past the post ,which in this case would have given Labor over 100

      3. Ken Allen, so abuse and gloating is all you have, go you!
        I actually know how preferences work, but on first preference even Scomo and Tony Abbott had over 40% of the vote, ya mate Albo could only manage 34%.

      4. Steve Lamb Happens with every govt. What’s the problem? If your lot won it would be exactly the same.

      5. George Dobbins who exactly is my lot?
        As I said even Scomo and Tony Abbott managed over 40% of the vote , and nobody liked them!

      6. Steve Lamb Nobody liked them because at the time there was no viable Opposition. Just like now. Besides the Polls will change again and Labor will win again as there’s no viable Opposition

      7. George Dobbins, reading and answering questions aren’t your strong point is it?
        But it seems assumptions are!
        There is no viable opposition atm, but that could well change and if/when it does there could well be the same result only reversed. How will Albos ego deal with that?

      8. Steve Lamb Reading and answering are fine. I answered all of yours. It will take ages for the LNP to get back. Taylor and Angus can’t even agree if it who is going to lead …and even when. They are bleeding to ON, that will take time to fix. Then repair damage done by Ley and Littleproud.
        I’ve gone back over my responses to you. Where are the assumptions?
        Labor will win.

      9. George Dobbins, yep, just like it took the ALP ages to come back from Abbott and Scomo, wait next election they had a majority
        And for all your posturing you still haven’t answered one question i asked, but you assume you know the answer, so the statement, reading and answering questions aren’t your strong point are they.

      10. George Dobbins the one where i asked you who exactly “my lot” Is?

        Insults?
        “Ask your kids” how things work isn’t an attempted insult?
        Or do you reserve the right to insult at will, but won’t allow it back?
        Dont start what you cant finish!

        Again reading and answering questions isn’t your strong point is it!

      11. Steve Lamb Your Lot is either LNP or ON, I’m guessing since you haven’t bothered to say.
        Which one is it?

      12. George Dobbins, it can be anyone, i vote for who I think can best manage my area, I also look at the bigger picture and who can better manage the country. I have voted for both LNP and ALP in the past, but keep making assumptions without any base knowledge.
        And again, you want to start with an insult and then call me on it, how very grandiose of you you!
        Voted ALP all your life have you, just like Dad or Grandpa taught you?
        No independent thinking at all?

      13. George Dobbins, maybe get your kids to help you with your reading, because literally the first sentence told you how i vote. Im neither left or right wing, but independently look at what is being offered. I know that doesn’t fit with your assumptions, but it is how I am!

      14. Steve Lamb So noncommittal, yet won’t reveal who you voted for.
        Let’s see… Coalition won’t win next time, it will take too long to get their act together
        Teals can’t win
        ON can’t win
        Greens can’t win
        Whoever is on the Looney Right can’t win
        You’re running out of options
        Do your comprehension skills extend past that?

      15. George Dobbins, wow, maybe i need to type slower so as you can keep up!

        Ffs, how hard is it to understand that I dont support either party in any way, I get you are probably a lifetime ALP supporter and card carrying member, but that doesn’t mean everyone else has to stay on the left like you. I vote for who I think will be best for my area and for the country, it’s that bloody simple!

      16. Steve Lamb No need to, I’m quite capable of staying ahead of you. FFS… You’re not listening to me. I’ll ask again, but slower….Who…Did…You…Vote…For…At…The…Last…Election?
        I don’t stay on the Left. I just think that at this particular point in time they are the better of the rest. So far I’m correct.

      17. George Dobbins, at the last election, we I voted LNP, because i could see this ALP train wreck coming.
        Good to see you can ask a question to get the answer you wanted, not just a generic question, because unlike you I haven’t dodged any questions, you’ve even supposedly re-read my posts and still missed a simple one, but as I’ve said reading isn’t your strong point, but now we will add the whole English language, because you seem to have no idea how to use it!

      18. Steve Lamb Very funny. Comprehension and Economics doesn’t seem to be yours.
        You voted for the shambles that was the LNP. The worst election platform in years. Hopeless team all part of the previous corrupt Morrison govt.
        What train wreck could you see coming?

      19. George Dobbins, So your eyes are also closed, wow!
        Anti semitisim up 300% under this government.
        Cost of living out of control!
        Housing non existent at a reasonable price.
        Inflation rising on the back of government spending and policy.
        Interest rates on the rise on the back of inflation.
        Want more?
        Families living in tents in parks in my area, simply because they cant get housing!

        Nah, this is a Sterling government, elected on promises of dropping the cost of power, 100 odd times it was promised, $275.
        Cost of living relief, no one is know is any better, and most worse off by $100’s a week.
        Immigration out of control!
        $billions on housing for no result, despite a promise of 1.2 million houses only 3000 built or in construction.
        Ministers spending $100k for a “business trip to the US, and $1000’s for a car to wait at the tennis for her, not to mention those family trips at our expense.

      1. Jenny Fitzpatrick no that was Morrisons lot with their illegal robo debt and aged care neglect.

    1. Cathy Garland Actually he’s more likely to be laughing at the dismantled rabble of the Noalition!

      1. Paul Anthony Coghlan or the divided nation he has created 🤔 a house divide will not stand .

      2. Cathy Garland No one divides the nation like the right wing fanatics and losers! As for the divided Coalition ………. they are a total laughing stock!

      3. Paul Anthony Coghlan i totally agree with on on the coalition but not on right wing . Right wing are the common sense percentage of Australia – with the far left, common sense isn’t that common anymore .

      4. Cathy Garland It’s the sensible centre that decides election outcomes. Australians are not attracted to extremists who these days mainly exist on the right.

      1. Trish McNamara New England Times actually has a comment section, have a look 👀 that’s what I commented on 👍😂

      1. Graeme Wellburn well clearly theirs & your standards are not very high 🙄 maybe the apple don’t fall far 🤷‍♂️

      1. Cathy Garland as a puppet of the Red head i don’t really don’t care what you think Pauline will never be PM.

      2. Cathy Garland making assumptions doesn’t wear, I don’t watch the ABC I get the actual facts unlike yourself.

    2. Cathy Garland labor hates Australians.. time to get rid of that scum and bring in a party that stand with Australians instead of against them.. vote One Nation

      1. R G Dooly Hogno On Engage Now: Opinion: It’s the shared bonds that are our nation’s greatest strength

        Prime Minister Anthony Albanese writes that Australia Day is a chance to celebrate the shared bonds and “fair go” spirit that unite the nation, while marking the 125th anniversary of Federation.

      1. Barbara Gronow l am not talking about the year just the date ! And PM did not mention a year either !

      1. Alan Townsend How ironic! You giving lectures to people about being happy while you go around spoiling our great nation with your nastiness. Perhaps you should follow your own advice.

  6. Well give us a fair go and stop penalising us with new and excessive taxes and unfair laws that penalise law abiding citizens then.

  7. Fair go?

    Don’t criticise all Islam for the actions of two?

    But criticise a million firearm owners for the actions of one that should never of got their license in the first place.

    Beggars belief.

  8. All these new arrivals with allegiance to a foreign Head of State.

    Sovereignty

    There is no Constitutional impediment to King Charles III transacting Sovereign treaties with unceded prior occupant Sovereign Elders from country colonisers call “Australia” since Sovereignty resides above constitutional arrangements and assimilation agreements transacted with a Governor’.

    Sovereign treaties replace coloniser protocols of misogyny and mixed up women’s and men’s business at cause of social dysfunction and impermanence with protocols of compatible cohabitation and sustainable prosperity held continuously from the emergence of humanity, to enable governance with Elders presiding over Women’s, Men’s and Youth assemblies in Parliaments.

    A year of transition under dual Royal and prior occupant Elder rule will be specified, during which prior occupant Secretariats established in Government Houses will coordinate prior occupant Elder representation from each participating nation pursuant to acclamation of the departing Royals and their Governors and Governor-General and a full audit of the continent.

  9. Defund the hate!

    Stop all government funding for indigenous and Islam .

    Let them fund their own hate !

  10. He is a hypocrite. Talks out both sides of his mouth depending on the event or situation. I like a fair Dinkum politician that says what he means and means what he says.

    1. Kathleen Ambrosio there are those who are so addicted to whinging, they don’t even know they’re whinging anymore. And then there’s the fake profiles, the paid profiles, the bots etc stirring, stirring.

    2. Kathleen Ambrosio Especially the the Loosers with there Childish, pathetic comments. Albo all the way.

  11. A NATION DIVIDED IS EASIER TO CONQUER…

    This is exactly what Albo is doing…WAKE UP AUSSIES HE IS DIVIDING US SO WE DONT NOTICE THE GOVERNMENT IS ROBBING US ALL BLIND…

  12. “fair go spirit”? Lol, our citizens are not getting a fair go under this government, their “big Australia” policy is hobbling people from getting a house! How is that a “fair go”???

    1. Paul Schulz the filthy rich are the ones stopping people with all their house banking and raking in negative gearing tax reducing incentives which has a huge impact on the economy, it currently costs tax payers 6.2 billion dollars for rich people to get richer and rising each year.

      1. Sharron Layton White and under Labor policies since the Whitlam era, their policies have made it harder and harder to get ahead in life. Before Whitlam, a single person who was employed say as a stores person, could afford to buy a home and raise a family. It was the Australian dream. No longer is it possible.

  13. to new england times readers…For all australians that missed Albo cizen ship speech… once again he has fooled the australian public, by annoucing there are now two citizen, confirmation speeches and all new citzens can choose, one with our constitutions words god you dont have ro say this now….. if he could of put the koran in he would have, so now swearing aliiegnece to australia has now become defunked. think about this, just another step thzat albo has taken towards the destruction of austalian

    1. Suzanne Gannon why would someone who doesn’t believe in a fantasy use them to commit their aligence to the country ( came into affect 2007/2008) and by the way you don’t have to swear on the bible to join the defence force either .

  14. Love to see what yours look Anthony Albanese will come through the posts you love to share . He won’t let your disrespect stand in his way .

    1. Bradley Knox Where was the turmoil? A few thousand protesters with March for Australia…what a joke.

  15. No matter how much the PM or Premiers attempt to unite Australians, it is too late.

    The opposite side and their media mouthpieces have shown division so c deeply, for many it is ingrained.

    The comments herein show

  16. The Dictatorship with failed hate laws already and high power prices, higher price of living, new taxes and gone after supers all lies lies lies on their policies.

  17. He is a traitor and the most hated man in Australia, hated even more then those gunman on that bridge.. and we all know how much Australia is pissed at them.
    Albo has encouraged and allowed this once great nation, a nation that stood together, to become a country divided.
    Where the Australians who built this country have no voice, are homeless, living in parks with children and are allowed to be attacked, while he gives free handouts to his imports allowing and encouraging them buy up the businesses and homes that Australians can not afford.
    You just have to go to the small towns around this nation, or the free camping spots near them, to see what Albo is doing and how much he truely hates the Australians who built this place.
    He is a traitor and I look forward to the day he stands before a judge and is sentenced..

  18. YAWN. Once again – TOO LITTLE – TOO LATE. He has thrown in the ‘grenade’ so many times and then stepped back saying ‘I am here to unify this country’. Really? I don’t think so. Let the records show!

  19. He is probably laughing at the 70% probability of yet another ‘interest rate hike’ next week – and gee what has driving it up again ????? ‘
    surprise surprise’ – government spending 😡!!!

    Labor voters are not the smartest group of people clearly 🙄

  20. I think Albo would rather protest with Palestinians than walk in an Australia first march holding an Australian flag… ever seen him do it?

Leave a comment
Engage respectfully! Posting defamatory or offensive content may get you banned. See our full Terms of Engagement for details.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *