Australian plebiscite, 1977 (National Song)
As an additional question in the 1977 referendum, the voters were polled on which song they would prefer to be used to mark occasions where a particularly Australian national identity was desired.
Results
Against the background that ‘GOD SAVE THE QUEEN’ is the NATIONAL ANTHEM to be played on Regal and Vice Regal occasions, electors may indicate their preferences as to which of the tunes of the songs listed below they would prefer to be played on other occasions.
Result
| State |
On rolls |
Ballots issued |
God Save the Queen |
Advance Australia Fair |
Song of Australia |
Waltzing Matilda |
Informal |
| Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
| NSW |
3,007,511 |
2,537,805 |
348,885 |
%15.32 |
1,169,421 |
%51.35 |
121,456 |
%5.33 |
637,795 |
%28.00 |
260,248 |
| Vic. |
2,252,831 |
1,951,160 |
352,603 |
%20.68 |
683,451 |
%40.09 |
110,591 |
%6.49 |
557,991 |
%32.73 |
246,524 |
| Qld |
1,241,426 |
1,056,804 |
204,453 |
%21.38 |
438,929 |
%45.90 |
61,234 |
%6.40 |
251,609 |
%26.31 |
100,579 |
| SA |
799,243 |
706,392 |
114,477 |
%18.07 |
152,507 |
%24.07 |
215,085 |
%33.95 |
151,434 |
%23.90 |
72,889 |
| WA |
682,291 |
235,525 |
113,054 |
%23.17 |
183,159 |
%37.54 |
75,524 |
%15.48 |
116,142 |
%23.81 |
68,394 |
| Tas. |
259,081 |
253,525 |
47,346 |
%22.38 |
88,825 |
%41.98 |
21,091 |
%9.97 |
54,329 |
%25.68 |
23,934 |
| ACT |
120,875 |
22,136 |
1,448 |
%6.65 |
7,857 |
%36.11 |
1,863 |
%8.56 |
10,593 |
%48.68 |
375 |
| NT |
38,209 |
2,951 |
423 |
%14.93 |
1,143 |
%40.35 |
413 |
%14.58 |
854 |
%30.14 |
118 |
| Total |
8,401,467 |
7,069,046 |
1,182,689 |
%18.78 |
2,725,292 |
%43.29 |
607,257 |
%9.65 |
1,780,747 |
%28.28 |
773,061 |
Discussion
Prior to 1974 God Save the Queen was Australia's national anthem.
In 1974 the Whitlam government performed a national poll, conducted throught the Australian Bearu of Statistics, to determine the song to be sung on occasions of national significance. Advance Australia Fair was chosen and was enshrined as the national song, to be used on all occasions excepting those of a specificaly regal nature.
Following the sacking of the Whitlam government in 1975, in January 1976 the Fraser government reinstated God Save the Queen for royal, vice-regal, defence, and loyal toast occasions, and made plans to conduct a national poll to find a song for use on ceremonial occasions when it was desired to mark a separate Australian identity.
See Also
Last updated: 05-28-2005 16:05:34
Last updated: 01-04-2007 01:18:57
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