God save our proud identity as Australians
Letter to editor by Ted O’Brien in The Age
3 March 2006

Australians for Constitutional Monarchy (ACM) is now trying to politicise the Commonwealth Games. It wants God Save the Queen to be played at the opening ceremony instead of Advance Australia Fair (1/3).

It is one thing to campaign against a future change to become a republic, but it's quite another to try to wind back the clock and deny our distinct national identity.

The 18th Commonwealth Games may bring together 71 nations that once formed the British Empire, but the days of empire and dominion colonies are long gone. By all means, due respect should be shown to the Queen and other dignitaries, but we are a proud an

d mature democracy that can sing our own anthem instead of Britain's. Movement in Australia to replace God Save the Queen began as early as the 1820s. It was not until 1977 that Australians chose Advance Australia Fair in a national poll, with Waltzing Matilda running second, and a minority of 19 per cent voting in favour of God Save the Queen.

Interestingly, a Newspoll on a republic in January of this year recorded a minority of 19 per cent strongly opposed to a republic.

Australia's historical debate about having its own national anthem is not dissimilar to the current debate on the republic: they both have something, yet nothing, to do with the Queen. The anthem debate was about replacing God Save the Queen as Australia's national anthem and the republic debate is about replacing the Queen as Australia's head of state.

Yet, that's where the relevance ends, because neither debate is really about the Queen. They are both about us.

Australians are not a sentimental lot. We don't thrive on British pomp and ceremony or American-style glitz and glamour. We have our own distinct national identity and we share common values of democracy, equality and justice - sometimes known in more earthy terms as "mateship" and "a fair go".

Australians do not take their identity and values lightly, even if, unlike some countries, we don't feel compelled to have them marketed back to us.

Sporting events like the Commonwealth Games are when you see Australian national pride come to the fore. It would be a serious mistake to discredit Australians' love affair with sport as a cheap form of entertainment.

Sport embodies our values as a nation. Sport is owned by everyday Australia. It is not for the rich and famous, nor for the elites or intellectuals. Our sporting heroes come from everywhere in Australia and from every possible background. Their greatness comes from talent, endurance and dedication, not from privilege or hereditary title.

It is no surprise that Australians find their patriotism in sport, just as they find their national voice in their anthem.

Our national anthem, like the campaign for a republic, is not principally about the Queen or Britain. It's about Australia's identity and Australian values. The organising committee for the Commonwealth Games has got it right in choosing to play Advance Australia Fair at the opening ceremony. We cannot wind back the clock, nor do we want to.
We're Australian and we're proud.

Ted O'Brien is the national chair of the Australian Republican Movement