Away back in the good old days when men could find a job; When money was as good as gold and tax was just two bob; When men would work and say with pride that they weren’t on the dole; T’was then that politicians came to play an active role. ‘We must unite,’ the statesmen said ‘in case we have to fight; We need a central government to maximise our might. We’re all Australians too, you see, not rough colonial folk; We need a sign to show the world this nation is no joke.’ ‘We’ll plan a grand new Commonwealth of which we can be proud; We’ll build a national capital with lakes and parks endowed; For no expense can be too much with national pride at stake; Our children will recall with thanks, we did it for their sake.’ They confiscated men and tools to build themselves a home; It started with a gabbing place where useful flocks once roamed. They capped the hills with monuments and manicured the grounds And the quarters of their servants spoilt the land for miles around. Then their horde of tax collectors spread like locusts through the land, And their rules and regulations drained the cash to lawyers’ hands. The courts became political (mere creatures of the State) The rule of law and common sense became quite out-of-date. The people then grew restless at this cross they had to bear; ‘It’s time for us to question if this road leads anywhere. What should have been our watchdog sitting quietly by the gate Is in the house and now he snarls if we don’t fill his plate.’ We must dismiss the traitors who have got us in this mess; The federation must return to things it can do best. Defence is what we hired them for not meddling in our lives; If they protect, while we produce a new dawn will arrive.’