Australia’s national anthem has been slightly tweaked to better reflect Indigenous history

Australia’s tweaked national anthem could be sung for the first time at the third Test against India in Sydney next week.

Australia’s national anthem has been slightly tweaked.

Australia’s newly tweaked national anthem could be sung for the first time publically at the third test against India due to be played in Sydney next week.

Scott Morrison said the change made to the second line of Advance Australia Fair was made to reflect the nation’s indigenous history.

“It is a sensible change and I think it will be well received,” the Prime Minister said.

“I look forward to it being sung for the first time, perhaps that will be at the SCG test in a few days time.”

After widespread speculation the test would be moved to another city at Sydney battles to get on top of a virus outbreak, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian this week said she was confident the event would go ahead at the SCG.

Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly earlier this week said he would not be letting his family go to the match due to COVID-19 fears.

But Mr Morrison said - were he able to get to Sydney - he would go.

“If I was in Sydney, I would love to go there and sing the national anthem in the new form,” he said.

The second line of the anthem has been altered from ‘young and free’ to ‘one and free’ – a move the Prime Minister said was for “all Australians”.

“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,” Mr Morrison 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.”

The momentous change – that takes affect from Jan 1 – comes after extensive consultation with Indigenous groups, who said the ‘young’ in the line ignored their long history before European settlement.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the change was for “all Australians”. Picture: Gary Ramage

Advance Australia Fair was composed by Peter Dodds McCormick and first performed in 1878.

It was altered in 1984 by Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke, changing “Australia’s sons” to “Australians all let us rejoice”.

The Herald Sun understands Mr Morrison spoke with Opposition leader Anthony Albanese about the change on New Year’s Eve after informing the state premiers and chief ministers.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt was supportive of the change and has been advocating for debate on the issue.

“We have to get this right because it is our National Anthem,” he said.

Indigenous Labor MP Linda Burney has also voiced her support for the change after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian threw her support behind the issue in 2020.

“We have in this country a remarkable story of 65,000 years,” she said.

“Everyone should be proud of that, and that’s what anthems and that’s what flags help us do.”

Mr Morrison said the change was a recognition of how far Australia has “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,” he said.

He said a challenging 2020 had highlighted Australia’s unity, despite many going months separated from their friends and family because of border closures.

“We are making our own Australian way through this crisis, a way guided by our enduring principles and values and together, we have done so better than almost any other country in the world,” he said.

“Our unity has been critical to this achievement.

“One and free is and must be the story of every Australian and it’s the way we truly Advance Australia Fair.”