Indigenous leader welcomes important change to national anthem which PM says reflects the Australia we always hope to be
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JanJanuary 2021 at 12:51pm
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he has been encouraged by the strong response from Australians to a change in Advance Australia Fair that recognises our timeless land of ancient First Nations peoples .
Key points:
Australians have responded strongly to the anthem wording change, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says
But composer and Yorta Yorta woman Deborah Cheetham says changing the anthem one word at a time is probably not the right way to go
Australia has changed a line in its national anthem in an amendment designed to better recognise and honour the long history of the country’s Indigenous people.
The change from “for we are young and free” to “for we are one and free” took effect on Friday and is the first amendment to the anthem, Advance Australia Fair, since 1984.
“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,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison wrote in the Melbourne-based Age newspaper on New Year’s Eve.
Scott Morrison called an Australian sporting legend just moments after the clock hit 12 on New Year s Day to tell her he had changed the words to the national anthem.
The prime minister immediately picked up the phone and called Olympic gold medalist and sporting hero Cathy Freeman to deliver the news in person.
The sprinting legend of the 2000 Olympics tweeted her astonishment at 2.38am on January 1 - before the New Year was even three hours old. What a way to start the year!!! A phone call from our Prime Minister to say we are one and free ! Thank you, she tweeted.