Cricket Australia’s return to Australia Day has sparked fresh debate, with Nova Peris backing the national anthem before the Big Bash final.
The governing body recently confirmed the 2026-27 BBL final will be played on January 26 after a two-year absence from the national holiday, but revealed Advance Australia Fair is unlikely to be played unless requested by the host city.
The stance prompted Peris, Australia’s first Indigenous Olympic gold medallist, to argue the anthem should remain part of the occasion, despite acknowledging the deep pain January 26 holds for many Indigenous Australians.
‘Division gets us nowhere, I have watched so much division in this country,’ Peris told News Corp.
Peris, whose mother was part of the Stolen Generations, said she understood the hurt many Aboriginal Australians continue to feel.
‘As an Aboriginal woman whose mother was part of the stolen generation, I feel their pain and I have my pain … [but] I carried the Australian flag because it was the country I represented,’ she said.
Nova Peris urged Cricket Australia to play the national anthem before the Australia Day final
Cricket Australia confirmed the Big Bash final will return to Australia Day next summer nationally
The former Hockeyroos star believes Australia can recognise Indigenous history without abandoning national symbols.
‘Over time this country has taken enormous steps to achieve reconciliation. It does not mean that injustices still don’t occur. January 26 is a contentious date.’
‘But there is no reason why the Australian flag, the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Island flag could not fly together or why they could not have a minutes silence to acknowledge the fallen and then go on and sing the national anthem.’
‘The anthem’s words are beautiful. With the Olympics coming to Brisbane in 2032 we don’t want to set a precedent that the anthem is a bad thing. Our nation is facing an identity crisis. We have to co-exist.’
Her comments come after BBL executive general manager Alistair Dobson indicated the competition was unlikely to change its long-standing match-day format.
‘We haven’t historically had too much in the way of ceremony and anthems at the BBL final unlike some other codes,’ Dobson said.
‘That is likely to be the way that continues, just because the BBL final is a formula we have had going for 15 years now.’
Cricket Australia has scheduled the BBL decider for January 26 after two summers without a major domestic fixture on Australia Day.
Cricket Australia will consult Indigenous advisers and the host club before finalising Australia Day plans
Dobson said the date remained the best fit in the calendar following the opening Test between Australia and India, while stressing the governing body would continue consulting its National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cricket Advisory Committee and the eventual host club before finalising how the day is recognised.
‘We acknowledge that January 26 means different things to different people,’ Dobson said.
‘We’ll work closely with the advisory committee and the host club around how we recognise that day.’
The move marks a significant shift from Cricket Australia’s position in recent years.
Former chief executive Nick Hockley previously defended the organisation’s decision to avoid using the words ‘Australia Day’ during the 2024 Gabba Test, insisting it was mindful the date ‘means different things to different people’.
His successor, Todd Greenberg, later pledged cricket would return to Australia Day while seeking to balance celebration with respect for differing views.
The consultation process has also attracted political criticism, with Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price previously accusing Cricket Australia of straying into politics.
The former shadow Indigenous Australians minister questioned why the governing body planned to consult Indigenous representatives rather than the wider cricket public.
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price previously accused Cricket Australia of becoming involved in divisive political debates
‘Why is it that all of a sudden … Cricket Australia and groups like this have to turn around and say, oh, we better consult a group of Indigenous Australians?’ Senator Price said.
‘How about the fans of cricket right across the country?’
She also questioned which Indigenous voices would be included in the process.
‘Which Indigenous Australians are you going to consult?’ she asked.
‘Those who were in favour of activism and changing the date of Australia Day?
‘Or those who are proud to call themselves Australian in this country, who voted No during the referendum, who are sick to death of the separatism and being painted as victims constantly?’
Senator Price said Cricket Australia ‘needs to stick to sport and stay out of politics’.
