Australia's PM Scott Morrison made the surprise announcement after consulting with a variety of political figures and social activists
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The Australian government has announced changes to the words of the country’s national anthem, amid concerns that the lyrics overlook the history of indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The second line of ‘Advance Australia Fair’ will change from “For we are young and free” to “For we are one and free”. The change was approved by Governor General David Hurley.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had taken to surprise decision in order to help foster a “spirit of unity”.
The decision involved consultations with state premiers, state governors who have been advised by the Governor-General as well as the Speaker of Federal Parliament and the President of the Senate.
Critics have called for changes to the words for a significant period of time in order to reflect the fact that Indigenous Australians represent the oldest civilisation in the world, stretching back over 10,000 years.
In a statement Mr Morrison said the change would take effect on 1 January and was being made “for all Australians”.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian first proposed the change earlier this year as she felt the lyrics made some people feel excluded
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“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,” the prime minister said.
“It is time to ensure this great unity is reflected more fully in our national anthem.”
The alteration was first proposed earlier this year by Gladys Berejiklian, the premier of New South Wales, who said the current wording left some people feeling excluded. Her proposal was supported by a range of Australians, including the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt.
‘Advance Australia Fair’, originally composed by Peter Dodds McCormick in 1878, became the national anthem Down Under in 1984, when Bob Hawke’s government replaced ‘God Save The Queen’.
Linda Burney, the spokesperson on Indigenous Affairs for the Labor party, said the change is overdue: "We have in this country a remarkable story of 65,000 years. Everyone should be proud of that and that’s what anthems and that’s what flags help us do."
Scott Morrison acknowledged that the change may not be welcomed by conservatives, but that it is a necessary step. “Changing ‘young and free’ to ‘one and free’ takes nothing away, but I believe it adds much,” he said.
Australia's National Anthem was performed in the traditional Era language for the first time during the Tri Nations rugby match between Argentina's Pumas and Australia's Wallabies
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“It recognises the distance we have travelled as a nation. It recognises that our national story is drawn from more than 300 national ancestries and language groups and we are the most successful multicultural nation on earth.”
Mr Morrison said while Australia “as a modern nation may be relatively young”, the country’s story was ancient. He cited “the stories of the many First Nations peoples whose stewardship we rightly acknowledge and respect”.
“In the spirit of unity, it is only right that we ensure our national anthem reflects this truth and shared appreciation,” he said.
The alteration comes after the national rugby union team became the first sporting team to sing the anthem in an Indigenous language prior to a match against Argentina earlier in December.
Indigenous Australians face significant challenges when it comes to equal opportunities. The average life expectancy for an Indigenous man is nine years less than that of non-Indigenous men, while the gap is eight years for women.
Indigenous groups have regularly protested against the anthem. In a 2019 rugby match between the Indigenous All Stars and Maori All Stars, half of the Indigenous team refused to sing the anthem.
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