A poll by Essential Research found that 29% of planned to actively celebrate Australia Day this year, down from 40% in 2019.

Australia Day is celebrated on 26 January, the anniversary of Britain's First Fleet arriving in Sydney in 1788.

Scott Morrison, the prime minister, who was heavily criticised recently for refusing to condemn two of his MPs for spreading false information about the coronavirus on the grounds of "free speech", condemned the cricket body's decision.

"On Australia Day, it's all about acknowledging how far we've come", he told local media on Thursday.

'You know, when those 12 ships turned up in Sydney, it wasn't a particularly flash day for the people on those vessels either'.

"I think what we've tried to embrace is embracing the uncomfortable conversation", Jones said.

Prime Minister Morrison on Thursday told CA to stick to cricket, while Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton labelled it a "token attempt" and urged the sport to reverse the call.

In response, Hawke said on Wednesday that the proposal played "negative politics with our history".

"As the leader of the country, he has an example to set for the rest of the nation and he should know better".

'How can we expect to see real progress on issues such as Reconciliation and Closing the Gap when he makes such ignorant and unhelpful comments like this?' "Suffering is not a competition".

"The Prime Minister has an opportunity to unite this country, not to divide it".

One other of Morrison's critics - Labor MP Graham Perrett - additionally pointed on the market had been really exclusively 11 ships within the first fleet.

'Luckily our prime minister doesn't have an electorate connected with this event, ' Mr Perrett said sarcastically.

"I think that's pretty ordinary - that's what they're putting on their press releases - that would be my view", he instructed radio 4RO.

Alex Hales in the Sydney Thunder Indigenous jersey. A barefoot circle, Welcome to Nation and smoking ceremony can even happen earlier than some video games, with CA main the initiative backed by the golf equipment.

Mel Jones, a former global cricketer who is a Cricket Australia director and co-chair of its Indigenous advisory committee, said Morrison's comments would not change the group's position.

Three games are scheduled to be played on 26 January.

"Ultimately I think if we got it right, people who have traditionally come to the cricket on that day and have had a ripping day shouldn't notice anything different".

It added the decision was in recognition of it being a "day of mourning" for many indigenous players.

CA are well aware the issue is a sensitive one and are desperate for it not to prove divisive, but want to encourage talk about the issue. It's really the cohort of people who aren't comfortable with the day that we hope we've made enough tweaks to make it a safe enough environment to also enjoy the day.

It comes after the NRL backflipped on a decision to remove the national anthem from the State of Origin pre-game itinerary following criticism from Morrison.

For years now, a "change the date" campaign led by indigenous Australians has lobbied to move the national day.