This bill did not become law and is no longer proceeding.
Government & democracy
The bill would formally name Australia Day as Australia's national dayThe day formally recognised as Australia Day. and set it on 26 January each year.
Henry Pike (Liberal) said 26 January is a public holiday in every state and territory but has not been formally recognised by the federal Parliament as Australia's national dayThe day formally recognised as Australia Day.. He argued that changing or ending the national dayThe day formally recognised as Australia Day. should require approval from a majority of Australians voting, rather than a decision by the government of the day. He also said more than 50,000 Australians had backed his campaign for federal recognition and protection.
Australia Day had long been a public holiday on 26 January across every state and territory, and the date was widely treated as the national dayThe day formally recognised as Australia Day. even though federal law had not formally designated it; its meaning remained contested, with Invasion Day rallies and alternative commemorations alongside ceremonies and celebrations. Against that background, Liberal MP Henry Pike introduced a private member’s bill on 1 September 2025 to protect 26 January while allowing change only through a national vote, but it was removed from the Notice Paper on 31 March 2026 without becoming law.
The evidence pack contains no speech from a named critic of the bill. In his own speech, Henry Pike (Liberal) acknowledged the broader criticism that some people see 26 January as a day of mourning, and that Australia's history includes hardship, injustice and tragedy, including deep uncertainty for the Eora people after the First Fleet arrived.
Henry Pike MP introduced this bill. Speeches supporting it came from Liberal.
Did it become law?
No
The bill did not complete passage through Parliament.
Final passage
No final passage
The bill has not completed passage and is no longer proceeding.
Time before failure
211 days
From introduction to the final recorded step before the bill stopped proceeding
Meaning
The bill would formally name Australia Day as Australia's national dayThe day formally recognised as Australia Day. and set it on 26 January each year.
The date could change only after voters are offered 26 January alongside one or more new dates in every state and represented territoryA territory represented in the House of Representatives.. A new date would need support from a majority of all voters taking part.
Parliament would decide how a vote on changing the date is run and how the winning date is adopted. It could use preferential votingA vote in which choices are ranked. — ranking choices — when voters choose among three or more dates.
People entitled to vote for members of the House of Representatives would be entitled to vote on a proposed new date.
The proposed law would begin only if it receives Royal AssentThe approval that would start this law.. Its explanatory memorandum says it would have no financial impact.
3 Observance of Australia Day as the national day (1) The national day of Australia is to be known as Australia Day and observed on 26 January each year.Australia Day introduced text
(2) The date referred to in subsection (1) ceases to be Australia Day if, and only if: (a) a new date or dates, and the date referred to in subsection (1), are submitted in each State and Territory to the electors qualified to vote for the election of members of the House of Representatives; and (b) the new date, or one of the new dates, is chosen by a majority of all the electors voting.Australia Day introduced text
(a) form and manner in which a proposal for a new Australia Day is submitted to electors; and (b) manner in which a vote on the proposal is taken (which may include the adoption of a form of preferential voting for choosing among 3 or more dates); and (c) arrangements for adopting a new date as Australia Day if chosen as mentioned in subsection (2); are to be as Parliament prescribes.Australia Day introduced text
(2) The date referred to in subsection (1) ceases to be Australia Day if, and only if: (a) a new date or dates, and the date referred to in subsection (1), are submitted in each State and Territory to the electors qualified to vote for the election of members of the House of Representatives; and (b) the new date, or one of the new dates, is chosen by a majority of all the electors voting.Australia Day introduced text
2 Commencement (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms. Commencement information Commencement Date/Details 1. The whole of this Act The day this Act receives the Royal Assent. Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.Australia Day introduced text
Context
Australia Day had long been a public holiday on 26 January across every state and territory, and the date was widely treated as the national dayThe day formally recognised as Australia Day. even though federal law had not formally designated it; its meaning remained contested, with Invasion Day rallies and alternative commemorations alongside ceremonies and celebrations. Against that background, Liberal MP Henry Pike introduced a private member’s bill on 1 September 2025 to protect 26 January while allowing change only through a national vote, but it was removed from the Notice Paper on 31 March 2026 without becoming law.
Australia Day remained a public holiday without formal federal national-day status
SBS NITV reported that January 26 had been a national public holiday for only about 30 years and that more communities were choosing mourning or protest events instead of celebrations.
SBS News ↗Australia Day brought ceremonies, celebrations and Invasion Day rallies
Thousands joined rallies in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane while citizenship ceremonies and other celebrations continued, showing why the date remained contested.
Sydney Morning Herald ↗Henry Pike MP introduced the Australia Day Bill 2025
Henry Pike MP introduced the private member’s bill in the House of Representatives to protect 26 January while requiring voters to approve any future change.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Invasion Day rallies again accompanied Australia Day
Thousands attended rallies supporting Indigenous Australians while separate anti-immigration protests also took place, keeping the date’s contested meaning visible.
Reuters ↗The bill was removed from the Notice Paper without becoming law
The recorded parliamentary outcome left 26 January without the proposed federal statutory protection or plebisciteA national vote on a proposal. process.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Key criticism
The evidence pack contains no speech from a named critic of the bill. In his own speech, Henry Pike (Liberal) acknowledged the broader criticism that some people see 26 January as a day of mourning, and that Australia's history includes hardship, injustice and tragedy, including deep uncertainty for the Eora people after the First Fleet arrived.
Pike responded that Australians could commemorate difficult parts of the country's history while also celebrating on the same day. The recorded debate was adjourned after his speech, so the evidence does not establish another party's position on the bill.
Further sources
Votes
No recorded votes were found before this bill stopped proceeding.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Henry Pike urges Parliament to pass the bill to establish 26 January as Australia Day in federal law and require public approval through a national plebisciteA national vote on a proposal. before the date can be changed.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
1 speaker · 1 support
“In closing, I want to say to my colleagues in this parliament—let us recognise Australia Day through this bill and delegate its future to the Australian people.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Removed from the Notice Paper in accordance with (SO 42)
Removed from the Notice Paper in accordance with (SO 42)
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
