Ex-triple j newsreader Brooke Boney on changing the date of Australia Day

Newly installed Today entertainment reporter Brooke Boney has shared her views about Australia Day continuing to fall on January 26.

The former triple j journalist is a proud Gamilaroi woman and became known on the national broadcaster for starting all of her news bulletins with ‘Yaama’.

The word means ‘hello’ in Gamilaroi, the language of her people in Northern New South Wales.

Now she has shared her views and experiences about Australia Day on national television this morning.

“I’m not trying to tell anyone else what they should be doing or how they should be celebrating,” she said.

“This is the best country in the world no doubt. But I can’t separate the 26th of January from the fact that my brothers are more likely to go to jail than they are to go to school.

“Or that my little sisters and my mum are more likely to be beaten or raped. It all started from that day.

“For me, it’s a difficult day and I don’t want to celebrate it. Any other day of the year I’ll tie an Australian flag around my neck.”

For the second year in a row, triple j has decided not to hold its Hottest 100 countdown on Australia Day, instead choosing another day on the same long weekend.

The date was changed after a survey showed that the majority of triple j listeners wanted the date changed.

Last year the national broadcaster was heavily criticised by several politicans including communications minister Mitch Fifield and Tasmanian senator Eric Abetz, who accused triple j of buying into political debate surrounding the day.

It was also revealed that triple j spent almost $39K on changing the date in 2018.

This year the countdown will be held on Sunday, January 27, and voting is now open.