In Australia, thousands of protesters staged marches today in several cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, demanding the date of Australia Day, that is 26 January be changed. Protesters say, 26th January is the beginning of the dispossession of Aborigines, who trace their lineage on the island continent back 50,000 years and it is not a day to celebrate. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said, he did not support changing the date of Australia Day. He said in Canberra that everyone is entitled to a point of view but, most Australians accept January 26 as Australia Day.<br/><br/>Australia Day is celebrated on 26 January, marking the arrival of the first British convict fleet in 1788.<br/>Australia's 700,000 indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people still struggle with the impacts of colonisation and track near the bottom of the country's 23 million citizens in almost every economic and social indicator. They gained citizenship in 1967 only and a vote on whether to recognise Aborigines in the constitution as the country's first people has been on hold for years.

Australia is celebrating its National Day today. The day is Celebrated annually on 26 January, marking the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales, and the raising of the Flag of Great Britain at Sydney Cove by Governor Arthur Phillip. <br/><br/>Unofficially, or historically, the date has also been variously named Anniversary Day or the Foundation Day. The holiday is marked by the presentation of the Australian of the Year Awards on Australia Day Eve, announcement of the Australia Day Honours list and addresses from the Governor-General and the Prime Minister. It is an official public holiday in every state and territory of Australia.