If you are a devoted fan of our national anthem, probably don't read on, you won't agree with anything from this point.
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It is National Reconciliation Week, a time we ask all Australians to stop and think about our shared histories, cultures and achievements.
With this in mind, we pose this question: Has the time come to review the national anthem?
There has been a lot of talk this week about the national anthem and some NRL players choosing not to sing it, but we raise this question not for that reason.
Instead we simply say, why not change it?
Quite frankly, our national anthem Advance Australia Fair sung by itself is not exactly what you'd call inspiring.
We inherited it as a result of a plebiscite in 1977 which saw it gain 43 per cent of the vote ahead of Waltzing Matilda on 28 per cent.
Watch a sporting contest between Australia and New Zealand.
The Kiwi national God Defend New Zealand sung with a Maori and then English version leaves you with goosebumps.
It signifies the respect and understanding they have of their country's shared history.
Advance Australia Fair then by itself pales into insignificance.
What we are seeing more these days at some events is Advance Australia Fair being sung both in Aboriginal and English and it is fantastic.
Patrons who saw the version at the Illawarra Hawks' indigenous game last season can attest to that.
The barrier many put up is "what about the many local variations of the Indigenous language? How do you choose one?"
Well, why do you have to choose one?
It could be done in the native language of the area. Wouldn't that be a cultural learning experience of its own?
Or, ask the nation's First People to vote on a version?
If we are serious about moving forward and creating a nation which is respectful of all our history, then these are exactly the type of conversations we need to be having and questions we need to be asking.
