'One word ain't gonna change the core meaning': Anthony Mundine rejects national anthem tweak
By WWOS staff
3 hours ago
Australian boxing great Anthony Mundine says the national anthem change "still ain't good enough" and that it remains a "white supremacy song."
From today, the words "for we are young and free" in
Advance Australia Fair will be replaced by "for we are one and free."
"Changing 'young and free' to 'one and free' takes nothing away, but I believe it adds much," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
But Mundine, the Indigenous former NRL star, said that wasn't good enough.
Anthony Mundine at Acer Arena in Sydney. (Getty)
"One word ain't gonna change the core meaning of a song!" Mundine said in a statement.
"It's always gonna be a white supremacy song until the whole song is rewritten!
"Still ain't good enough!"
Many Indigenous Australians believe the anthem to be
non-representative of their ancient culture, if not racist.
Mundine was also critical
after the Wallabies sung the anthem in the Eora language for the first time last year.
He expanded on his issues with the anthem
in an extensive interview with Wide World of Sports in 2019.
Indigenous Olympic hero Cathy Freeman, however, supported the change on Twitter.
"During the past year we have showed once again the indomitable spirit of Australians and the united effort that has always enabled us to prevail as a nation," Morrison added.
"It is time to ensure this great unity is reflected more fully in our national anthem.
"Also, 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.
"In the spirit of unity, it is only right that we ensure our national anthem reflects this truth and shared appreciation."
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