Australians ostensibly forgot the meaning of the words, because they are putting up with lots of tyranny from their government.
Yes, the Australian people have shown clearly that they are no longer the Crocodile Dundee type characters that many believe that they once were. The same goes for their Kiwi neighbors. But, I am not sure that the “words” to this song ever meant to most what this article claims that they do.
From a BBC link,
"What are the lyrics to ‘Waltzing Matilda’?"
‘Waltzing Matilda’ doesn't have official lyrics as such, and slightly different versions may be heard from place to place. But the typical lyrics run as follows:
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong Under the shade of a coolibah tree, And he sang as he watched and waited till his “Billy” boiled, “You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.”
Chorus: Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda, You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me, And he sang as he watched and waited till his “Billy” boiled, “You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.”
Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong, Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee, And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag, “You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.”
(Chorus)
Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred. Down came the troopers, one, two, and three. “Whose is that jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag? You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.”
(Chorus)
Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong. “You'll never catch me alive!” said he And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong: “You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.”
https://www.classical-music.com/features/works/waltzing-matilda-name-lyrics
It is not clear from the lyrics if the swagman committed suicide, or if he drowned during his attempt to get away, because he wasn't as good of a swimmer as he thought.
Do we now consider it suicide when people die trying to evade the authorities?
"You will never catch me alive coppers."
"Bap, bap", from the bad guy's gun.
"Bap, bap, bap", from police guns.
Medical examiner, "Death by suicide."
I don't think so.