With today marking 170 years since the Battle of the Eureka Stockade, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has remembered those who stood together for justice and equality.
The famous rebellion, which is seen as the birthplace of democracy in Australia, saw at least 22 miners and five soldiers killed.
Ballarat cemeteries are today holding a ceremony commemorating those who lost their lives, with a sold-out Peter Tobin Oration also being delivered at the Ballarat Mining Exchange by former Wallaby Peter Fitzsimons and author Clare Wright.
In a statement, the PM said the Eureka rebels laid the foundations for an Australia where change and progress are shaped by the ballot box and workers’ rights are fundamental to our national values.
He says even after 170 years, the miners’ demands for justice and fair treatment live on in our egalitarian society and our strong democracy.
