It rankles to be singing that Australia is young and free. It smacks of terra nullius; denying the ancient, continuing culture of indigenous peoples.
It also denies our role in the brutal displacement of first nations.
It urges advancement of Australia – old-fashioned and arguably impossible while reconciliation is denied.
A fair Australia would have accepted the Uluru Statement from the Heart. A Fair Australia would not still be locking up Aboriginal kids as young as 12 – young but not nearly free.
Let’s face it, ‘girt by sea’ and ‘joyful strains’ are hardly relatable and most of us don’t even remember the second verse.
Let’s ditch it and start again with something more poetic, more inspiring, more inclusive and definitely more fair.
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM
Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We’ll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair.