Australia alters anthem to honour Indigenous people

Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks on Thursday night. Australia has kicked off the new year by altering its national anthem to better reflect its ancient Indigenous culture (Mark Baker/AP)

Australia has changed one word in its national anthem to reflect what the prime minister called “the spirit of unity” and the country’s Indigenous population.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on New Year’s Eve announced the second line of the anthem, Advance Australia Fair, had been changed from “For we are young and free” to “For we are one and free”.