Australia Day is marked by civic celebrations around the country, including Order of Australia and Australian of the Year awards for outstanding achievement.
There is also a national public holiday. For some years this was held on the closest Monday, to give holiday-loving Australians a long weekend. It is now held on the actual anniversary, unless 26 January happens to fall on a weekend, in which case the public holiday is still held on the following Monday.
However, Australia Day arouses indifference in many people and dislike in others. Many not from Sydney regard the day as too Sydney-centric; many Australian Aboriginals term it "Invasion Day" and regard it as celebrating their subjugation. Some have suggested making ANZAC Day Australia's national day, or changing to January 1, commemorating January 1, 1901 when Australia's six colonies federated into one nation. Each of the alternatives raised also pose problems (ANZAC Day because many war veterans believe that it is their day, also that it is also a New Zealand national holiday, while January 1 is also a public holiday in the middle of the Christmas holiday season).
However, it is unlikely to be resolved until the issue of Australian republicanism is definitively resolved - if a change to Australia's form of government occurs it has been suggested that the date of the changeover should become the national civic holiday.