AUSTRALIA started the new year with a subtly changed national anthem, but Sunraysia’s indigenous communities say the revision is insulting rather than unifying, and are upset at what they say is a lack of consultation.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on New Year’s Eve that the second line of Advance Australia Fair would change from “For we are young and free” to “For we are one and free”.
It is the first time Australia’s national anthem has been changed since prime minister Bob Hawke recommended Advance Australia Fair replace God Save the Queen in 1984.
According to Mr Morrison, the change highlighted national unity, which he said had been demonstrated during the coronavirus pandemic.
“During the past year we have showed once again the indomitable spirit of Australians and the united effort that has always enabled us to prevail as a nation,” he said.
“It is time to ensure this great unity is reflected more fully in our national anthem.”
Mr Morrison said the change was made “for all Australians” – but especially to recognise Australia’s indigenous peoples.
“While Australia as a modern nation may be relatively young, our country’s story is ancient, as are the stories of the many First Nations peoples whose stewardship we rightly acknowledge and respect,” he said.
“In the spirit of unity, it is only right that we ensure our national anthem reflects this truth and shared appreciation.
“Changing ‘young and free’ to ‘one and free’ takes nothing away, but I believe it adds much.”
But to many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the change is hollow or an insult.
First People of the Millewa-Mallee Aboriginal Corporation’s community engagement officer Peter Matsumoto said he had spoken to several members of Sunraysia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community who were unhappy with the “tokenistic” change.
“It’s seen as an insult, really – like they’ve just ticked a box,” he said.
“It’s such a minor thing and they’re treating it as if they’ve done this amazing thing for the community and the country as a whole.”
Mr Matsumoto said the Aboriginal community was also chagrined at a lack of consultation and publicity around the change.
“No one was actually aware of the changes,” he said.
“The couple of people that did had come across it by accident.
“Scott Morrison was saying it reflects the realities and the understandings of our country. Obviously there’s not much understanding there if they think that the indigenous community is happy with this.
“The anthem itself isn’t for the indigenous people; it’s a white person’s anthem. And they think by changing one word in it it’s going to make a big change to indigenous people?”
According to Mr Matsumoto, indigenous communities would rather see the government focus on “meaningful” actions, arguing reconciliation in Australia had a long way to go.
“They go on about closing the gap, but that gap doesn’t seem to be getting any smaller.
“The country itself is still so racist.
“Rather than spending their time looking at songs and trying to reword songs to make people feel good, they should be out there actually doing something meaningful to help the community and help the country.”
