Undermining Australia's secular national anthem

The Catholic Church can alter the Australian National Anthem when it chooses?

In 2011 the question was put to the then Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, whether these Christian verses were acceptable. The reply was that

Under national protocols the Anthem should not be modified and alternative words should not be used.

I expect any prime minister of Australia would confirm that.

National protocols are not laws. They are procedures government recommends concerning symbolic activities relating to nationhood, such as how the flag is to be handled and displayed on Australia Day. But there is an issue here.

In 2014 the office of the Governor-General is saying that while Dr Sharwood’s verses may not be used on occasions when the National Anthem is sung, they may be sung in a church. While the prime minister in the comment cited above did not address the question of alternative verses being sung inside a church, surely it’s a bit of a stretch to say that what is against protocols outside a church is unacceptable, but what is against protocolsinside a church is acceptable.

In an authoritative text on protocols in Australia, the authors do not concede the National Anthem may be subject to alternative verses.

Nevertheless, it seems to be the case that the use of alternative Christian verses is widespread in Christian, private schools. Another set of Christian lyrics caused controversy in 2011. The federal education minister at the time, Peter Garrett, himself a Christian, was adamant alternative Christian verses should not be used.

The Australian Christian Lobby was quick to try and muddy the waters of what is a clear cut issue of protocol.However, the 6 February 2014 letter from the office of the Governor-General, cited above, which does not say alternative verses may be sung in schools, puts paid, I suggest, to the ACL’s dissembling.

Conclusion

So, where does they leave us?

In religious ceremonies, it seems, Australia’s secular National Anthem is being undermined, with the approval of the Office of the Governor-General, against the advice of a prime minister and a federal minister for education.

In private, religious schools, Australia’s secular National Anthem is being undermined against the 2011 advice of a prime minister, a federal minister for education and now, it seems, the office of the Governor-General.