The Death of Irony: Why I’m Choosing Gratitude This Australia Day

By a Proud Aussie of Faith

As Australia Day approaches, the air is thick with the usual "alphabet soup" of activism. I look at my local queer news feeds and see the same tired list of "Invasion Day" rallies. There is a strange, almost obsessive desire among some in the LGBTIQ+ community to jump on the back of every rebellion, every protest, and every cause that seeks to dismantle the very foundations of our nation.

The Suicide of the Left

The irony is at a breaking point. We see "Queers for Palestine" banners held high by people who have never set foot in the Middle East. It is a joke that isn't funny. In the very places these activists cheer for, someone like me wouldn't be holding a banner; I’d be facing a death sentence.

The Hard Reality: In Gaza, same-sex relationships carry a 10-year prison sentence. Currently, 64 countries globally still criminalize consensual same-sex acts, with several maintaining the death penalty. We have seen the horrific footage of gay men like Ahmad Abu Marhia beheaded for the "crime" of being themselves. Yet, here in Australia, activists use their freedom to support ideologies that would hang them from a crane.

History warns us. In 1979, Iranian leftists joined the Islamic Revolution thinking they were "fighting the oppressor." As soon as the regime took power, those same leftists were tortured and executed by the thousands. Aligning with fundamentalism isn't liberation; it’s a death wish.

The Infiltration of Our Local Spaces

I have seen this transition happening in my own town on the Gold Coast. Our local queer groups, once focused on community, are being infiltrated. One week, a new person shows up to a meeting; the next week, there are four others wearing hijabs, weeping over Palestinian rights rather than local issues. It is a dangerous joke. We must be brave enough to call out the fact that radical Islamic values are fundamentally incompatible with our nation’s freedoms.

A Generational Legacy: My grandfather was a staunch LNP member, but he eventually shifted his support because he felt the mainstream wasn't standing firm enough against the erosion of our values. He became one of the first donors to help start Pauline Hanson’s party because he saw these shifts coming and wanted a bolder voice for the 'silent majority.' My father warned me too, and looking at the state of our local groups today, their foresight has been proven correct.

The Gift of the 'Fair Go' and the Silent Majority

While the loud minority spends their January 26th looking for reasons to be offended, the rest of us look at the Australian flag and see a sanctuary. We forget too easily that the 'Fair Go' isn't a modern political slogan—it is a byproduct of our Christian heritage and the rule of law. It’s the idea that every soul has inherent value.

I often think of the ANZACs and the generations who came before us. They didn't bleed for a collection of identity groups or "alphabet soup" labels; they bled for a Commonwealth. When we allow radicalism to turn us against our own history, we aren't just being "progressive"—we are being ungrateful.

A Call for the Sensible Centre: The radical fringe thrives on the idea that Australia is "broken." But the truth is, the "sensible centre" knows that we are the envy of the world. We don't need a "Day of Mourning"; we need a Day of Awakening to the peace and prosperity we currently enjoy.

The tragedies we’ve seen recently are a wake-up call. Our peace is fragile and must be defended from those who hate our way of life. If the radical left or religious extremists find our values so "oppressive," perhaps it’s time for some common sense: if this home doesn't suit your values, there are many others that won't offer you the freedoms you currently take for granted.

This year, let’s trade the placards for a bit of prayer and the protests for a bit of pride. Let’s stand for the flag that stands for us. It’s time for the pendulum to stop swinging toward division and finally settle on Mateship.

Loyalty to Country • Strength in Faith • Unity in Truth

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are personal and do not reflect the official position of any government office or representative.

The Shield of Truth: Protected Commentary

While the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Act 2026 introduces significant penalties, it includes vital "safe harbor" provisions to protect our fundamental freedoms. As someone writing from a position of faith and reporting on the changes within our local Gold Coast community, it is encouraging to see that the law explicitly protects those of us engaged in legitimate public discourse.

Know Your Protections: Under the new Act, your speech is protected if a reasonable person would consider it to be for a religious, academic, educational, or artistic purpose, provided it is not contrary to the public interest. There is also a specific safeguard for professional journalists and commentators providing news or current affairs reports that serve the public interest .

This ensures that while the law aims to stop those who incite violence, it is not meant to silence a person of faith sharing a message or a writer calling out the ironies of modern activism. We must continue to use these protected spaces to speak the truth boldly, ensuring our heritage and national identity are never sacrificed for political correctness.