Tens of thousands of protesters across the country are set to disrupt Australia Day celebrations, as local councils continue to debate changing our national day.

Aboriginal activists in all states have called for the abolition of recognising January 26 as Australia Day, which many refer to as Invasion Day or Survival Day.

Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance (WAR) are planning a rally in Melbourne's central business district which they expect will attract more than 10,000 protesters.

An 'Invasion Day' march moves slowly through the streets of Sydney on January 26, 2016

Hundreds of Aboriginal activists mark 'Invasion Day' on January 26 last year in Adelaide

A protest organised by Aboriginal activists mark 'Invasion Day' in Melbourne's CBD last year

Part of an Aboriginal protest held at Old Parliament House in Canberra on January 26, 2016

The organisers have deliberately not consulted with police or Melbourne City Council in planning their 'Invasion Day' protest.

Other rallies will be held in capital cities throughout Australia on January 26, the 230th anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney.

WAR organiser Tarneen Onus-Williams told The Australian the Melbourne protest was not only just intended to be part of the 'change the date' campaign.

'People think just change the date and it’s going to be fine,' Ms Onus-Williams told the publication.

'People say they’re celebrating a great country. Celebrating a great country - Australia - has come at a loss for so many people, especially Aboriginal people.

'Most people who think this is a great country are white people.'

'No pride in genocide': Adelaide activists protest against Australia Day on January 26 last year

WAR organiser Tarneen Onus-Williams is behind an 'Invasion Day' protest in Melbourne

Activists marching in an 'Invasion Day' protest through Adelaide on January 26 last year

Fellow WAR organiser Arika Waulu told The Australian: 'As sovereign people we don’t seek authority to walk on our own land.'

'We want it [Australia Day] to be abolished until there's something to celebrate. It's never going to be OK to celebrate it on any other day.'

Victorian Greens MP Lidia Thorpe has called for Australian and Aboriginal flags on government buildings to fly at half-mast on the day.

In response to the 'change the date' movement nationalist groups True Blue Crew and the United Patriots Front are planning a beach party on the St Kilda foreshore.

In Sydney, an 'Invasion Day' rally will start at The Block, in Redfern, from where protesters will march to nearby Victoria Park.

The rally was initiated by Fighting In Resistance Equally (FIRE), which states: 'The war on Aboriginal people continues… Sovereignty and Justice Now!'

'While colonial regime continues to hold a day of celebration, we resist the ongoing war against Aboriginal people,' the organisers state.

Victorian Greens MP Lidia Thorpe (pictured) wants flags to fly at half-mast on January 26

Protesters at an 'Invasion Day' rally at Canberra's Aboriginal Tent Embassy on January 26, 2017

One of the last fireworks displays at Fremantle in Western Australia on Australia Day, 2015

'FIRE believes that standing against the colonial system and the racist mindset that was brought here in 1788 is crucial to all struggles against oppression and exploitation.'

Across Australia, councils have discussed changing the date of Australia Day.

Last year, Melbourne's Yarra, Darebin and Moreland councils, which are in the city's inner-northern suburbs, dropped Australia Day cele­brations.

As a result Yarra and Darebin councils were stripped of their authority to hold citizenship ceremonies, while Moreland council received a warning from the federal government.

Two New South Wales council will consider changing the date of Australia Day before next year's celebrations.

Ryde Council, in Sydney, and Port Stephens Council, north of Newcastle, suggested they would discuss the move.

A man celebrates Australia Day at Avalon on Sydney's northern beaches on January 26, 2016

Members of the right-wing group True Blue Crew march in Melbourne in June last year

Right-wing protesters from the United Patriots Front and the True Blue Crew in Melbourne

NSW Independent MP for Sydney Alex Greenwich has said the country's most spectacular Australia Day celebrations should be moved from January 26.

'While I was watching the citizenship ceremonies at Circular Quay last year I felt a huge deal of discomfort seeing all the naval vessels in the harbour,' Mr Greenwich said.

Councils in Fremantle and Hobart have also expressed support for changing the date of Australia Day. Hobart council has deferred any change to its events.

Fremantle council cancelled its Australia Day fireworks last year. More consultation is underway in Perth's Bassendean and Cockburn.

Brisbane City Council's Labor opposition leader Peter Cumming has said he would be happy with a a national agreement to shift the date away from January 26.

But he would not support calls from Greens councillor Jonathan Sri for the council to move its celebrations and citizenship ceremonies.

The ABC's Triple J Hottest 100 countdown of the past year's best songs will move this year from January 26 to the following day.

Two young women celebrate Australia Day at Terrigal on the New South Wales Central Coast



