PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER Press Statement No. 141
24 October 1973
NATIONAL ANTHEM POLL PLANS
The Bureau of Census and Statistics, at the
request of the Government, is planning a nation-wide
opinion poll to establish preferences for a new
National Anthem.
The poll will be conducted in February next
year and people will be asked to make their choice from
the three songs already selected by the National Anthem
Committee. These are: Advance Australia Fair, Song of
Australia, and Waltzing Matilda.
Results of the poll will be used by the Government
to make a final decision on the anthem.
A cross-section of the community, aged 18 and over,
throughout Australia will be covered.
The poll is being organised by the Bureau of Census
and Statistics as part of its NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY.
The Bureau's responsibilities include many Australia-wide
household surveys such as the quarterly surveys of employment
and the major surveys recently completed on migrants and on
income. These surveys provide valuable information upon which
the polihies of the Government and other organisations can be
based. All surveys are based on scientifically selected samples
of up to 60,000 people in all walks of life.
The National Anthem poll will be an extension of this
continuing NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY programme. While giving
an accurate measure of opinion the costs involved are minimal
compared with those for a national referendum.
All surveys conducted by the NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
are preceded by a small pilot test to ensure that the survey
procedures are efficiently designed. A pilot test for the
National Anthem poll will be conducted during November.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.