What are national anthems?

A national anthem is a patriotic song formally adopted by a country to represent it at official ceremonies, sporting events, military commemorations, and public occasions. Australia's national anthem is Advance Australia Fair, composed by Peter Dodds McCormick in 1878 and officially proclaimed by Governor-General Sir Ninian Stephen on 19 April 1984 on the advice of Prime Minister Bob Hawke's government.

Australia also recognises a Royal Anthem, God Save the King (formerly God Save the Queen until the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022). The Royal Anthem is played in the presence of the King or other members of the Royal Family on official duty, and at the opening of meetings of the federal Executive Council. The national anthem, Advance Australia Fair, is the song used at all other occasions where a national anthem is required.

Before the 1984 proclamation, the position of national anthem in Australia had been contested. God Save the Queen served as the de facto anthem until a 1977 plebiscite asked voters to choose between Advance Australia Fair, Waltzing Matilda, Song of Australia, and the existing God Save the Queen. Advance Australia Fair received 43.6 per cent of the vote, well ahead of the others, but the change was not formally enacted until 1984.

The lyrics of Advance Australia Fair were revised slightly in 1984 to remove old-fashioned language, and again on 1 January 2021 when the phrase 'for we are young and free' was changed to 'for we are one and free' to recognise the more than 60,000 years of Indigenous occupation. Under Australian protocol, the anthem is sung in English and is preceded by an acknowledgment of Country at official events, especially on lands where Traditional Owner groups have been formally recognised.