Astronaut named Australian of The Year; Major Sydney protests to go ahead with increased police presence

Good morning and welcome to our Australia Day coverage.

Here are some of the important events taking place today:

WugulOra (meaning “a mob”) Morning Ceremony The event, which will celebrate the culture of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation through dance, song and storytelling, will be held at Barangaroo reserve from 7.30am. The event includes a smoking ceremony, special performances and speeches from the NSW governor and premier and a speech from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Yabun Festival (meaning “music with rhythm” in the Gadigal language) is Australia’s largest annual one-day festival celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, featuring First Nations artists, speakers, market stalls and more. It will be held at Victoria Park in Camperdown from 10am to 7pm.

NSW Police have cleared the way for today’s protests by extending controversial protest restrictions put in place following the Bondi terror attack. Invasion Day parade to continue. The rally will start at 10:00 in Hyde Park. One of the key issues protesters are focusing on is that Australia will record the highest number of Indigenous deaths in custody in 2024-2025 since 1979.

March for Australia The anti-immigration demonstration is expected to start at noon in Prince Alfred Park, south of Central Station. The event will also focus more on Australia Day and keeping the public holiday on January 26, defying calls to celebrate the day on a different date.

Australia Day Live concert The event, which will take place between 19.30 and 21.30 in the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House, will feature Australian shows and a fireworks display over the harbour. The concert will include a tribute to the families and communities affected by the terrorist attack in Bondi and a performance by Sydney-based band SHIR – Australian Jewish Music Festival.