Anthemic Greenough for you?

MR G.A. WOODHAMS (Greenough) [10.13 pm]: I notice in this house that there is often some licence to use certain language to express points of view. I choose to take licence to express a particular point of view about the Australian anthem, Advance Australian Fair. Perhaps our learned friends on the other side of the house would like to rewrite the national anthem to become Advance Australia Equal! It could be rendered: “Australians, let us all rejoice, for 57 seats have we; golden soil and wealth for toil, our home is girt by sea.” Members should feel free to sing along if they know the words. “Our land abounds in nature’s gifts of beauty rich and rare, and history’s page at every stage, Advance Australia Equal. In joyful strains then let us sing Advance Australia Equal. When gallant Gallop from Geraldton sailed to trace wide oceans over, false courage bore him on, till he landed back on our shore. Then here he raised old Labor’s flag, the standard of the red, with all his faults we love Jim still, one vote, one value rules the wave! In joyful strains then let us sing Advance Australia Equal. Beneath our radiant Parliament House, we’ll toil with hearts and hands, to make this city-state of ours, renowned of all the lands. For those who’ve come across the seas, we’ve boundless electorates to share, with courage let them all be combined, to advance Australia equal. In joyful strains then let us sing Advance Australia Equal.”

Subject: One Vote One Value Bill 2005 [Legislative Assembly - Second Reading]

Date: 5 April 2005

Hansard reference: pp. 266b - 345b [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament, greenough