'A Transitional Government to Replace a Transitional National Anthem': VoNC Launched Against Government

^{JAMES JAMESONSON REPORTING FROM MAWSON STATION, ANTARCTICA}

INDEPENDENT MP u/dyljam has launched a motion of no confidence in the Riley8583 Government after the government failed to change the national anthem despite 'I Am Australian' winning a majority in the recent plebiscite.

In the national anthem plebiscite, 'I Am Australian' attracted 53% of the vote. However, rather than changing the national anthem to 'I Am Australian', the government instead released a bastardised national anthem, merging both 'Advance Australia Fair' and 'I Am Australian' into the one song. The move immediately attracted strong criticism from across the parliament.

Denison MP u/dyljam issued a scathing rebuke, stating "Today, the Prime Minister broke Australian democracy.

"He ignored the will of the Australian people in a nationwide ballot, and in doing so he effectively declared himself an autocrat, above the Australian public."

The Country Labor Party launched a protest against the moves, with leader u/Gregor_The_Beggar stating "I urge any and all members of the public to attend our protest and take a stand for democracy in our fair country and against this tyranny by a Government which believes that it can do what it wants."

And in a stunning display of cross-party unity, a group of current and former MPs from the Opposition, Crossbench and even the LNP Attorney-General, My1.3InchDuck released a statement calling for the government to reverse its moves, and if it refuses to do so, the Opposition take immediate action. It does not specify what this action may entail.

Further, a poll undertaken by Australia Tonight indicated that only 17% of Australians support the government's changes to the national anthem.

In response to the sustained criticism, the government released a statement apologising for 'confusion surrounding the anthem change'.

A quote attributed to the Treasurer states 'An error on my part in the transition program, internal department recommendations suggested a transition anthem would be a popular decision; however it was not.'

'[W]e have made a mistake and in doing so we will be correcting a mistake; one which I will take complete ownership for. To clarify, the anthem will be reverted to Advance Australia Fair; the Council will continue to take place and we will progress forward as a nation. By June 30th, we will have I Am Australian as our anthem!'

In response to the actions of the government, crossbench MP u/dyljam, with the support of the opposition leader u/NGSpy, submitted a motion of no confidence in the government.

Speaking in parliament, u/dyljam stated 'The Riley8583 Government has chosen to ignore the will of the Australian people in the national anthem plebiscite, and in doing so has turned its back on Australian democracy.'

'In the face of this transitional national anthem, on the understanding that the AEC has informed that an election cannot be held imminently, I call for a transitional government! A government composed of the opposition and crossbench members of this place!'

Another strong critic of the government's failure to honour the result of the plebiscite, former MP and High Court justice u/General_Rommel, stated 'This is a direct attack on Democracy. This is a direct attack on what the People voted for.'

'It is time for Members of this House to stand up for basic decency, for our rights, for our expectations of our democratically elected Members of this House, and to vote for this Motion till the Government guarantees that the full lyrics of I am Australian are to be made the anthem as quickly as possible.'

The Prime Minister proceeded to attack the Opposition and the crossbench, stating '[they want] to bring down a government during a global pandemic, a time where a stable government is needed'

When questioned by the National Review, u/dyljam said 'The last time Australia faced a global crisis was during the Second World War. The conservative government lost a no-confidence motion and Australia found it's greatest-ever Prime Minister in the form of John Curtin, despite not holding a majority in either house.'