As a nation
colonised by the British and part of the Commonwealth, loyalty to the
Monarchy has long been considered an integral element to the
Australian identity. However since colonisation there has existed a
desire within the Australian community to diverge from the influence
of our “Mother Country” and forge an individualised Australian
identity based on Australian values. This notion of shifting from
British ideals has gained momentum in society and has been
exemplified in a myriad of key events that have taken place in recent
Australian history.
In
1963 the Holt government announced that their current Australian
currency which had been inherited by Britain was going to be replaced
in favour of decimal coinage. This decision reflected the attitude of
Australians at that time who were keen
to implement steps which would legitimise the notion of constructing
an independent Australian identity through divergence from
Monarchical influence. The people of Australia offered over 1000
suggestions for the name of the new currency. Whilst some such as the
“austral” and the “emu” were more neutral, many such as the
“deci-mate”, “the
boomer”, “the roo”, the kanga, and the “dinkum” shared a
common ground in reflecting quintessential Australian values like
good humour, larrikin-ism and a joking attitude.
Unfortunately for
contenders like the “deci-mate”, the government at the time of
the currency shift was Liberal and lead by PM Harold Holt. The
liberal party are generally typified by right-wing conservatism and a
comparatively greater sense of loyalty to the Monarchy, thus they
favoured a name which denoted and reinforced Australia's ties to the
colony. After
Holt's “close and careful examination” “the royal” was
announced to an expectant nation and subsequently met with collective
disapproval and scorn. Whilst a relatively neural term,
“dollar” was eventually decided on, Australia's reaction to the
blatantly Monarchist “royal” name is evidence of the nation's
almost unanimous yearning to distinguish ourselves from the colony and
create a distinctly Australian identity typified by our own national
values.
Soon
after the currency shift came the implementation of metrication in
Australia which was initiated in 1970 and was completed by 1988.
Along with our original currency, the imperial measuring system was
another inheritance from our mother country. Although contrastingly
to the “dollar” vs. “royal” debacle, this shift was
necessitated by both the aim of further forging a distinctly national
identity and practicality which was also met with acceptance from the
general public. Despite the inherent advantages of the metric system
which involve substantially increased efficiency in teaching
mathematics and science, a large proportion of the UK reject the
system as they perceive it as
submission to the European Union.
In
the midst of the metrication came another integral decision
implemented by the Whitlam government in 1973. They decided that
Australia needed a new national anthem that would signify us as a
separate and distinct entity from the colony and celebrate our
uniqueness. A nation wide survey was held to determine a replacement
for “God Save the Queen”, a song which celebrates
Australia as a nation of subservience to the colony and connotes the
subjugation of ours people under the empire. “Advanced
Australia Fair” was selected and became the national anthem, except
on occasions of exceptionally regal significance. “Advanced
Australia Fair” purports our country as a young, independent,
generous, prosperous, democratic and secular nation who doesn't
pander to the Monarchy. The song correlates to the social movement
which was gaining momentum in the 70's which saw for the first time
an embracing of Australian cultures and attempts to eradicate the
notion of a cultural cringe.
However
in 1976 the Fraser government highlighted their alignment with the
monarchy by reinstating “God Save the Queen” as the default
anthem. Since 1945, Australia has seen the permanent migration of
more than seven million people and our nation is becoming more and
more culturally diverse by the day. It is for this reason that one
could argue that an anthem such as “God Save the Queen” which
signifies our British origin was irrelevant to a substantial
proportion of Australian society in the 1970's because it does not
reflect our status as a multicultural country.
To
compensate for the uproar of protest from the Australian people a
plebiscite was conducted (as an optional additional question in the
1977 referendum) to chose the Nation Song which would be used when
it was desired to markedly distinguish a separate Australian
Identity. “Advance
Australia Fair” received 43.29%, Waltzing Matilda received 28.28%,
Song of Australia received 9.65% and God Save the Queen received
18.78%. Thus “Advance
Australia Fair” was once again reinstated on April 1984 under the
conduction of PM Bob Hawke.
The
initial decision to shift from “God Save the Queen” and the unanimous outcry when it was reinstated in 1976 signifies the extent to which the dynamics and values of Australian society have shifted. The concept that the majority of Australian people no longer identify with the British ideals and values conveyed in their anthem reflects the necessity for us to pioneer a national image that symbolises what typifies Australian culture and our way of life.
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