National Media Releases

Don't waste Australia Day getting wasted - Mr Steven Ciobo MP

24th January 2010

Don’t waste your Australia Day getting wasted - that’s the message from Shadow Youth Minister Steven Ciobo who is urging young Australians to stop and think about the real message of Australia Day on Tuesday.

Mr Ciobo said the spirit of Australia Day was becoming increasingly associated with booze-ups, violence and misplaced nationalism - among a conspicuous minority.

“Australia Day should be principally about two things – thinking about our values and our history and how we should cherish our Australian citizenship,” Mr Ciobo said.

“It is not about boozing to excess, draping yourself in a flag and spoiling for a fight. It is not about binge-drinking, über-nationalism and rioting.”

“What we saw at Burleigh on the Gold Coast last year, for example, was a total aberration, an un-Australian cocktail of alcohol and distorted sense of patriotism by a very few young people. It ruined what should be our proudest day.”

Mr Ciobo stressed it was a small minority causing the problems on Australia Day, but he believed a sense of aggression and hostility on the day appeared to be increasing among many young people, and alcohol was too often at the root of the problem.

“Most people do the right thing and celebrate our national day by participating in family activities and past-times such as enjoying a barbecue, a game of backyard cricket or spending time with family and friends.”

Mr Ciobo said Australia had seen a sharp increase in alcohol-related injuries and violence among young people, and youth were increasingly reporting experience of alcohol-related violence.

In Queensland 31 per cent of 15-18 year olds who received treatment for an injury in emergency departments had consumed alcohol six hours before the injury.

“Make this an Australia Day to remember, not one to forget, and remember why we’re regarded as one of the most peaceful countries in the world.”