Reconciliation Day in 2025

When is Reconciliation Day in ACT?

Reconciliation Day is a public holiday celebrated in the Australian Capital Territory region of Australia. Canberra is the only city in the territory.

The holiday is taken on the first Monday on or after May 27th.

History of Reconciliation Day

This holiday marks the anniversary of the 1967 Australian Referendum. It also marks the start of National Reconciliation Week.

Called by the Holt Government, the Australian referendum of May 27th 1967 approved two amendments to the Australian constitution relating to Indigenous Australians.

The amendments were overwhelmingly endorsed, with 90.77% of votes cast in favour of the amendments and carrying in all six states. The amendments changed sections 51(xxvi), and 127, leading to the effect of including Aboriginal Australians in determinations of the population, and also empowering the Federal Parliament to legislate specifically for this racial group.

The amendments did not give Aboriginal people the right to vote - that had been introduced in 1962 - or citizenship, as most of the specific federal and state laws that discriminated against Aboriginal people had already been repealed by 1967.

ACT became the first jurisdiction in Australia to gazette a Reconciliation Day holiday when a bill to amend the Holidays Act passed with tripartisan support in the ACT Legislative Assembly on Thursday September 14th 2017.

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week is a time for Australians to learn about shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how people can contribute to achieving reconciliation, according to Reconciliation Australia.

The week runs from May 27th to June 3rd, with the dates commemorating the successful 1967 referendum and the Mabo Decision respectively.

Family & Community Day

In 2018, this holiday replaced Family & Community Day which was observed for the last time on Monday September 25th 2017.