A daily 5 minute news wrap for English learners.
Welcome to SBS News in Easy English.
I'm Sofija Petrovic.
More than 12,000 people from 130 countries became Australian citizens today.
Nelum Nissanka, who was born in Sri Lanka, says she is proud to call Australia home.
"Australia [is] good. It is very peaceful. Everyone respects each other. And it is such a good culture, multicultural society -- I like it."
Governor-General David Hurley says Australia's new citizens give the country a multicultural story.
"As many of you have said: our greatest strength is our people. We are diverse and that is a strength because despite our differences, we are one. The sum of our contributions is what makes us a great nation."
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic there were 50 per cent fewer people at the ceremony in Canberra this year.
Australians are marking the 26th of January differently.
Indigenous broadcaster and musician Dan Rennie says he is joining protests around the country, marking what some call 'Invasion Day' not Australia Day.
Australia Day is a public holiday in Australia marking the arrival of the First Fleet of British settlers, however for Indigenous people it represents the start of British colonisation.
Mr Rennie says today is not a celebration for him.
"My birth mother was taken away. This is a practice that still continues to this day. And while is celebrated as the national day in this country, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people do not feel included. We want to get rid of Australia Day."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he understands, but says Australia Day is about community.
"One of the greatest overcomers of all of our peoples in this country has been our First Nations people. They have had to overcome dispossession, and they have had to overcome colonisation, and they are thriving, surviving community. Community is one of, if not the greatest Australian story. And it is one we can all combine together and acknowledge. There are more than 25 million stories in Australia right now. And we must respect them all, seek to understand them all."
The winners of the 2021 Australian of the Year awards are all women.
Grace Tame was named Australian of the Year.
Ms Tame is a sexual assault survivor and activist.
She has worked to change the laws in Tasmania and raise awareness.
"Publicly, he described his crimes as "awesome" and "enviable". Publicly, I was silenced by law. Not any more. Well, hear me now, using my voice, amongst a growing chorus of voices that will not be silenced!"
The Senior Australian of the Year is 73-year-old Aboriginal activist, Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann.
Isobel Marshall is the Young Australian of the Year, and Australia's Local Hero is 60-year-old Rosemary Kariuki.
Journalist Kerry O'Brien has rejected his Australia Day award.
He says he cannot accept the award if tennis player Margaret Court also receives Australia's highest honour.
Ms Court has made many public comments against same-sex marriage and is being awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia.
Mr O'Brien was meant to be appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.
In other news, former school principal Malka Leifer is coming back to Australia to face sexual abuse charges.
Ms Leifer lest Israel yesterday.
She is facing 74 charges from her time as principal of Addas Israel School in Melbourne.
Sexual assault victim advocate Manny Wakes says he hopes there will be justice.
"We also hope that now that Malka Leifer will be in Australia, the process will be swift, so that her victims will get justice as soon as possible, so it won't increase their pain and suffering as that has already been exacerbated over the years. We also hope that the Australian authorities look at who facilitated her release and escape to Israeli and hopefully they also will be held to full account."
I'm Sofija Petrovic and this is SBS News in Easy English.
