Petition Launched To Move The Date Of Triple J’s Hottest 100

UPDATE: Triple J Is Officially Changing The Date Of The Hottest 100

ORIGINAL STORY: An online petition has been created aiming to move the date of triple j’s Hottest 100 countdown so that it no longer takes place on Australia Day each January.

The petition, initiated by the Bar(r)ed Subjects collective, addresses the issue that Australia Day isn’t actually a celebration for all, saying that, “Australia Day represents, for First Nations’ Peoples, a date commemorating the invasion of their countries and colonisation of their ways of life, rather than a celebration of what it now means to be ‘Australian’.”

The petition’s creators acknowledge it’s beyond triple j‘s powers to change the date of Australia Day, but they’re hoping instead that the broadcaster might boycott the usual date of 26th January for its annual countdown.

“By changing the date of the Hottest 100 Countdown, Triple J can send a message to First Nations’ Peoples that they, and their experiences, are valued and respected by other Australians,” the petition reads.

The petition calls upon triple j ‘Breakfast’ hosts Matt Okine and Alex Dyson to push for the charge, and to encourage conversation around moving the Hottest 100 to a “less inflammatory and more inclusive date” in the future.

Australia Day has always had dark connotations. Last year, Australian musicians like Briggs and The Presets were vocal about their reasons for not partaking in Australia Day celebrations.

At the time, Briggs summed up Australia Day as “just a day off to get smashed”, with The Presets posting an open letter suggesting we find a new day to celebrate Australia, “And anything would be better than the 26th of January.”

At the time of writing, the petition has 320 signatures since launching three weeks ago. To read the petition or add your name, head to Change.org.

Music Feeds has contacted triple j, Matt Okine and Alex Dyson for comment.

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