Travel businesses across the country have joined the move to offer Aussies the choice to work on Australia Day out of respect for Indigenous Australians who oppose the annual public holiday on January 26.
One of the highest-profile businesses to embrace the idea is small group adventure company Intrepid Travel.
“This is the third year that we’ve offered our Australian-based staff this option and they can choose to take an alternative day off instead,” Intrepid Travel CEO James Thornton said in an email to the company’s Australian staff.
Thornton, who confirmed that “like previous years” he would be working on Thursday, explained that Intrepid offered the choice “out of respect and compassion for the fact that our First Nations partners have told us that it is not a date to celebrate”.
“For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the day is exceptionally difficult and as part of our reconciliation journey here and around the world, we believe it is vital to listen to, respect and learn from First Nations people,” he added.
“Of course, it is not mandatory to work on January 26, but we want to offer you the choice. We respect and support everyone’s own decision.”
Intrepid Travel is committed to reconciliation and strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples. Read its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Eco warriors follow suit
Melbourne-based Reho Travel, which won the inaugural Sustainability Award at the 2022 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) in November 2022, said it “followed Intrepid’s lead as we also questioned the appropriateness of the Australia Day holiday given the trauma that many associate with the date”.
“As it turns out, none of the team took the option as in practical terms we need to be available when our clients are working,” Reho Travel founder and CEO Karsten Horne told Karryon.
“We can only hope that in the near future Australia Day is celebrated on a date that all Australians can embrace equally.”
Karryon also spoke to multiple agents who said they would be working on Australia Day. However, many specified it wouldn’t be due to political reasons but because they were too busy.
Other businesses making the call
Karryon founder and managing director Matt Leedham said Karryon would not be formally celebrating Australia Day on January 26 because of “respect to all First Nation friends and colleagues and our mission to unite and connect people in travel”.
Leedham said staff could choose whether to work on the public holiday or take leave on another day, with Karryon’s daily e-newsletter proceeding as usual on January 26.
“Karryon is certainly not opposed to celebrating Australia Day as a united day of gratitude and togetherness,” said Leedham.
“We simply feel that the date should change because of the non-inclusive, divisive and traumatic symbolism that the current date represents to many Australians.”
Travel companies offering the choice to work on Australia Day join businesses, including Woolworths, Telstra, Wesfarmers, KPMG, BHP, Deloitte and Paramount, in the movement.
