Anthony Mundine calls Aboriginal-language rendition of the national anthem a 'tokenistic gesture' that 'rubs salt into the wound' of indigenous people whose ancestors were murdered and a new song is needed to make Australia 'one mob'
- Anothony Mundine said the indigenous rendition of the anthem was tokenistic
- The former footballer said a whole new song needs to be written in its place
- Wiradjuri woman Olivia Fox sung the Australian anthem in the Eora language
- Every player from the Wallabies learned the words to the Indigenous verse
By
CHARLOTTE KARP and
KYLIE STEVENS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
Anthony Mundine has slammed the Aboriginal version of the national anthem as a 'tokenistic gesture' and called for a new song to make Australia 'one mob'.
Wiradjuri woman Olivia Fox sung Advance Australian Fair in the indigenous Eora language before the Tri Nations rugby union game between the Australia Wallabies and Argentina at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney on Saturday night.
Indigenous boxer Anthony Mundine said the performance, which was the first of it's kind at an international game, 'rubs salt into the wound' of first nation's people whose families were killed due to discriminatory racial laws before 1973.
Mundine calls Aboriginal version of anthem a tokenistic gesture
Anothony Mundine said the Aboriginal language version of Advance Australia Fair is tokenistic
The former rugby league player made his views known when he said the anthem is the 'theme song for the White Australia policy' earlier on Monday, and doubled down on his comments on The Project that evening.
Mundine acknowledged the 17-year-old's moving performance, but told hosts: 'I feel it was a tokenistic sort of gesture.'
'They're sort of rubbing salt into the wound, as a black fella.'
The 45-year-old accepted that singing the anthem in an indigenous language 'looks good', but said it was 'not the right thing to do' because the song has racist origins.
When speaking with the Herald Sun earlier on Monday, Mundine said: 'You can't just sing the same original text in Aboriginal language and think it's going to fly with people.'
'It got people talking but it still ain't the right message. It looks good and sounded good when the Wallabies sung it and it looks like they're giving back - but they're not really giving back.'
Wiradjuri woman Olivia Fox sung the Australian anthem in the Indigenous Eora language before the Tri Nations rugby union game between the Wallabies and Argentina
When asked whether tweaks should be made to the current anthem on The Project, Mundine said Australians need a 'brand new one'.
'Depending on the tweaks ... there would have to be major tweaks,' he said.
'I think we have to get a brand new one ... to recognise the traditional owners, the rightful owners ... and the diverse country we have today'.
He said Australians of all backgrounds need to be recognised in the song.
'One anthem for one mob. We're all one mob... but you definitely have to recognise the traditional owners of the land.'
Anthony Mundine (pictured) called for a brand new anthem to recognise the traditional owners
Mundine urged people who don't want the national anthem changed to research the topic.
'It's outdated, anyway ... [People need to] find out when the anthem was compiled.'
He explained the song was written in 1878, when Aboriginal people were enslaved, forcibly removed from their families and traded like livestock.
'The Advance Australia Fair isn't fair as in "fair play" and "fair game", it's as in the colour of your skin - being fair and white.'
'I just call a spade a spade. I'm just trying to make it better for future generations.'
He also congratulated Indigenous NRL star Latrell Mitchell who was also quick to slam the moment on social media.
'When will people understand that changing it to language doesn't change the meaning!' the South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL star captioned and shared an Australian Wallabies post on Saturday night, along with a face palm emoji.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ition-national-anthem-tokenistic-gesture.html
Mitchell reiterated his feelings with this follow-up Instagram story on Saturday night
Anthony Mundine (pictured) says that while Saturday night's rendition of the anthem got people talking, it still doesn't portray the right message
He reiterated his view in a follow up Instagram story.
'Be proud but understand what you're proud of,' Mitchell wrote.
'I stand for us, our mob! Be proud of the oldest living culture. Always was always will be.'
Not all indigenous sports legends hold the same view.
While Brisbane Broncos legend Steve Renouf understands where Mundine and Mitchell are coming from, he has no issues with the anthem rendition.
'I think it was a good touch by the Wallabies and there are a lot of Indigenous people happy with that. Good on the ARU, they didn’t have to do it,' the three-time premiership great told the Daily Telegraph.
Mitchell is one of the most outspoken NRL stars who oppose the national anthem and is one of the main driving forces behind the push to stop it being played before games.
He also starred in this season's NRL marketing campaign with an Aboriginal flag draped around him.
Mitchell was among a host of stars who refused to sing the anthem at last year's NRL All Stars game or before the first State of Origin game a few months later.
'It doesn't represent my people,' Mitchell told Seven News last year.
The 23-year-old said he had a specific issue with the lyrics 'young and free'.
'We aren't young and free. We're the longest-living culture in the world,' Mitchell said.
'I guess just for them words to be in that, it just contradicts the whole anthem for us singing it.
National anthems were scrapped in favour of traditional dances at the annual pre-season All-Stars NRL game in February this year after a meeting between indigenous players and the NRL Commission.
'It's a step in the right direction, obviously the commissioner of the NRL had a meeting with us and he took the first step for us, and we can't thank him enough, and I think for us to get this it really means a lot,' Mitchell said at the time.
'When will people understand that changing it to language doesn't change the meaning,' Latrell Mitchell said (pictured with partner Brielle)
NRL star Latrell Mitchell had a different take to many viewers of the anthem rendition
'It's really good to see the NRL getting behind us and putting the front foot forward and letting us have our voice.'
The Rabbitohs star vowed to continue to speak up for himself and his people, despite being previously subject to racist abuse from online trolls.
'I'll stand proud, that's who I am, and I'm not going to change for no one,' Mitchell said.
