1. "I am Australian". Wasn't this song used commercially by Telstra to flog mobile services? Not exactly a rich and vibrant history (see l'Armée du Rhin). And as I recall, after the Feds used it in citizenship ceremonies they were forced to pay the Seekers a royalty. Imagine them getting a cut each time its played at the Olympics - gold indeed!

2. "For forty thousand years I've been
The First Australian"

The song's a bit out-of-date. The current meme is that they've been here for 60000 yrs. And it keeps going up. Perhaps, if we had it as the anthem, we could increase the number by 1000 each Australia Day - you know, just to keep the natives happy.

3. "Do you think it's time for a change?" Some nations have the quaint idea that the anthem should have some historic meaning eg France, USA, Britain. Changing with the fashion of the day seems a little juvenile, although that probably reflects our politics at the moment. Here's a thought. Lets change it every year and make the winner of the JJJ poll that year's anthem. What could go wrong.

4. Personally, I preferred Waltzing Matilda over AAF when given the choice way back when. I still think its the better reflector of Australian character and it has a genuine history. And it would be embraced by the so-called First Aussies. After all its about a slightly drunk (jolly)bloke who steals from others and then dies trying to evade the law. Surely the natives could identify with that :)

When ever I hear "I Am Australian," I feel that someone from the multicultural authority is pouring some sort of political slime over me.

Talk about a cheesy bit of gooey rubbish, no thanks.

The current meme is that they've been here for 60000 yrs
mhaze,
You're a little behind there, the last one I heard is up to 80,000 now !

Indi, do they realise they are doing their cause more harm than good by trying to exploit their connection to this country.
Mankind has been around for as long as it has been, and they have moved around the world criss-crossing the globe during their/our existence.
And still do today.
It is arrogant to keep promoting the mantra that 'this is our land'.
Well in fact it's not, and it never was.
If we are to take a literal and objective view of this mantra, some would say that any previous 'tenants' were just that and were in fact transients, with no intention of settling and making this, or any land, 'home'.
The abo was nomadic, and as such, moved around.
They had to confine themselves to specific areas, to protect their immediate surroundings for hunting and survival purposes.
They NEVER OWNED ANYTHING.
They were squatters, at best.
This does not entitle or afford them the right to make any demands on any lands.
On the other hand moving on to current laws and beliefs, not ones presumably so old, that have no value or bearing in today's laws and life, we find that in fact those who 'bought' and 'payed for' a piece of land, can honestly says, with hand on heart, and clear conscience, 'this IS, MY, land'.
Why we have to kowtow to these wannabees is beyond me.
By today's laws and standards, I want to see a receipt or document showing when they purchased this country and how much they paid for it.
Until then, I say to those making these unrealistic and unjustifiable claims, shut the f#*k up and go back to the bush you hold so dear.
80,000yrs?
Why stop there?
Wait a while and someone will declare the obvious; that they are direct descendants of Adam and Eve.
As far as pissing contests go, you'd find it hard to top this one.

I am tempted t try walking on very thin ice, it is my nature, see truth matters
YES I was confronted by those who refuse to sing what is in the end, a rather boring Anthem
We have said sorry, started welcome to country, come a long way
The truth is not far enough, yet
Look at the recent election, we can all, surely, see people voted against a social reform package
Know, for every one who approves of that protest ten do not [remember folks do not all want to weep forever over others crimes]
With The very best intentions, this action has, it has you know, like the change Australia day stupidity, turned heads away from a true need to improve our first nations lives

Writer, satirist, and comedian Ben Pobjie
sums up the topic of - "Australians All
Let Us Discuss If Australia's Anthem Is
Any Bloody Good Or Not," in his article for
10 Daily that he wrote on 13/06/2019.

Pobjie writes that nobody wants to defend
"Advance Australia Fair,"for 2 reasons.
One it makes you look like you have terrible
taste in music and - two, - usually people who
defend it - are spittle-flecked
culture warriors more bent on resisting any
change at all than spruiking the merits of the
song.

He tells us that - it's not that great a song,
but it's not that bad either. There are better
anthems in the world, and there are ones which
are much worse.

He gives as an example the British National
Anthem - "God save the Queen." Not only is it deathly
dull to listen to - it's not even a song about how
great the country is. It's a song about how great
one specific woman is whose status she owes entirely
to the coincidence of heredity rather than actual
achievement. Pobjie tells us that the British
anthem is an ode to subservience, to archaic tyranny
and that Australia's anthem beats it into a cocked hat.

He tells us that national anthems are generally not great
songs, and lets be frank - they're not supposed to be.

He points out that there are even worse and weirder
anthems out there. The Dutch national anthem he says
isn't just about their monarch, it's actually written in
the first person from the perspective of William of Orange
and relates his struggle to win independence from Spain.
"A Prince I am of Orange," or "O that the Spaniards rape
thee."

The Greek Anthem he says begins terrifyingly with the
words - "I shall always recognise you by the dreadful
sword you hold." Then the Spanish Anthem has no words
at all.

According to Pobjie the Golden Standard of
national anthems is France's - "La Marseillaise."
It's a great tune - but the words are a call to a
bloody revolution

cont'd ...