On the central streets of Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne, crowds of demonstrators marched with banners and T-shirts saying "[Australia] always was, always will be Aboriginal land," Australian broadcaster reported.
In Brisbane, protesters urged not to "celebrate genocide" on Australia Day, which many citizens demand to be postponed to a different date, the media outlet reported. However, a number of public opinion polls showed that the majority of the country's residents are still in favor of preserving the celebration, the broadcaster added.
The issue of Australia Day's celebration has long been openly discussed by Australian public.
The 1986 Australia Act formally severed all legal ties between Australia and the United Kingdom except for the monarchy. Thus, the UK monarch is still regarded as the de facto head of state in Australia.