None of this is new. Indigenous Australians held a Day of Mourning on Australia Day back in 1938. And as Indigenous Labor MP Linda Burney wearily noted on Wednesday, she's been "dealing with this issue" in the weeks prior to January 26 for 30 years.

And yet, whenever the topic is raised, the political establishment reacts with shock and indignation. As if the debate is about whether Australia should declare itself the Republic of Horrible Idiots, rather than change its national day to one that doesn't coincide with the anniversary of British colonisation.

This year, the debate has been restarted at the federal political level by the Greens, with leader Richard Di Natale's pledge to make changing the date one of his top priorities in 2018. While it is not surprising that the Coalition and Labor have been unwilling to buy into a Greens initiative, it is also striking how quickly (non-Indigenous) political leaders move to shut down discussion about Australia Day.

See here the homily Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull posted on Facebook on Monday: "I'm disappointed by those who want to change the date of Australia Day, seeking to take a day that unites Australia and Australians and turn it into one that would divide us." Trade Minister Steve Ciobo hit out at what he sees as attempts to "delegitimise the significance and cultural impact of Australia Day" and Citizenship Minister Alan Tudge told the Greens, "do not ruin Australia Day for the rest of Australians".

While Burney has talked about her difficulties with the day, Labor, officially, has been unenthused. This week, Labor leader Bill Shorten confirmed his previous position on the matter, which is to keep Australia Day on January 26.

So even before you get to the substance of the debate (i.e. what does it say about Australia if we celebrate ourselves on a day that makes significant sections of the Indigenous community uncomfortable, offended or angry?), you're bamboozled by misplaced righteousness. With political leaders who are hellbent on making Australia Day into some sort of sacred cow, when we all know that the only cows associated with January 26 are the ones in sausage form.

When asked about their thoughts on the day, Australians hardly demonstrate a searing commitment to the January 26 cause. As Fairfax Media reported on Thursday, only 38 per cent of Australians polled by the Australia Institute were able to correctly pick the historical event that happened on January 26 (the First Fleet landing in Sydney Cove). And while 84 per cent said it was important Australia had a national day, 56 per cent said they didn't mind when it was. Just under half (49 per cent) said it should not be on a day that is offensive to Indigenous Australians.

And you can't argue Australia Day has some long, special history. The term "Australia Day" may have been around since the 1930s, but it has only been a national public holiday since 1994. And we don't have any widespread, serious cultural traditions that mark the day. Yes, it features citizenship ceremonies, which are very meaningful to those involved – but these can and do happen throughout the year. The Australia Day awards could also be presented on another day.

For the vast majority of Australians, what does Australian Day mean in a practical sense? A public holiday in summer that's not Christmas. A chance to see friends and have a BBQ. If you're in the younger demographic, you might listen to the radio play a countdown of some songs. If you're of the sporty persuasion, you might watch the Australian Open.

In fact it's really just like a standard weekend day, only with the possibility of some fireworks at the end of it.

Other "traditions" associated with January 26 are even less sacred or serious, relying heavily on outdated stereotypes of Australianness that people should be free to enjoy in our free country but which don't deserve to be commemorated or endorsed at any official level.

The NSW government's Australia Day event list is promoting thong throwing, wife carrying (yes, wife carrying) and watermelon eating competitions in Sydney on January 26. As well as the Watsons Bay event where you paddleboard with your dog. In Brisbane, there's the cockroach races. In Melbourne, that well-known Australian icon, Peppa Pig, is headlining festivities in Kings Domain.

So the argument that Australia Day is a precious national celebration – not to be tinkered with for fear of damaging our social fabric – is about as convincing as Meryl Streep's Australian accent.

Turnbull insists that Australia as a free country "debates its history, it does not deny it". But it's very hard to see how glossing over a proper Australia Day debate does anything other than ensure the issues around the date once again go unresolved – and guarantee we'll be back here this time next year, having the exact same conversation.