Plea to change anthem denied

A NEW national anthem that strips out words deemed offensive to indigenous Australians has been granted permission by the Turnbull Government to be sung as a “patriotic song”.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has offered the compromise after a prominent group of Australians failed to convince him to accept their new version of Advance Australia Fair, which includes a third verse to recognise indigenous history.

Victorian Supreme Court Judge Peter Vickery, via the Recognition in Anthem Project, has changed the second line of verse one from, “For we are young and free”, to, “In peace and harmony”.

The revision has been made to acknowledge 50,000 years of indigenous culture.

He has also written new lyrics for a third verse, which makes mention of Dreamtime, Uluru and respecting country.

Because the Commonwealth owns the anthem’s copyright, Justice Vickery, who is also a poet, wrote to Mr Turnbull asking if he could make the changes in his campaign to formally overhaul Advance Australia Fair.

Justice Vickery said the project, which he had undertaken as a private citizen, planned to embark on a process to consult with Australians in a bid to get support for the changes.

“Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people find the words, ‘ For we are young and free’, hurtful and offensive and find it difficult, if not impossible, to stand or sing the anthem with these words,’’ Justice Vickery said.

“This situation needs to be put right and without delay.”

Prime Minister and Cabinet Assistant Secretary Peter Rush responded on behalf of Mr Turnbull earlier this year, advising Justice Vickery: “I appreciate the effort and intent of your thoughtful and creative proposals for changes to the anthem.

“It would not be appropriate for alternative versions of Advance Australia Fair to be presented as the Australian national anthem, which should be performed as proclaimed.

“However, there may be occasions when your version of Advance Australia Fair could be performed as a patriotic song.”