I believe the song is by Paul Metsers.

As sung by Kilderkin with Paul leading. There are little changes all the way, plus the missing lines in verse 2
THE SWAG AND THE SHINER

When I was a lad well I made up me mind
That I didn't belong to the labouring kind
Me hands were too good and me body too fine
And, me brain, sure it was even finer,
To spoil them by working would be such a shame
So, I learned all I could of this wayfarin' game
And by way of Australia to New Zealand came
And hurray for the swag and the shiner.

Now some folk drink tea but water's less risky
And with others it's sherry or beer makes them frisky
But give me the Irish and Jamieson's whiskey
The warmest and best stomach liner
And many's the infamous trick I've conceived
And many's the barman that's gladly believed them
So of many free whiskies I often relieve them
Hurray for the swag and the shiner

One hot day as I tramped with my mate, Gypsie Lee
He points down at the road, "A dead sparrow," says he
"That's a skylark," says I, "And, a free drink for me,
If you'll follow the plan of the Shiner,
So at the next pub I says, "You wait outside
But, stay by the door with your ears open wide,
And, at the right moment you comes straight inside
But, you don't know the swag or the shiner."

So, at the next shanty I swear it's a lark
"It's a sparrow" the barman is heard to remark
Says I "I'm so sharp I can tell in the dark
The difference 'tween Magpies and Minahs"
"I'll wager a whiskey all round then" says he,
"That the next man comes in here a sparrow will see"
So in comes old Gyp, "'Tis a skylark" says he;
Free drinks for meself and the shiner.

Now houses and mansions I let them all be
And I'm certain that working each day ain't for me
On the road with me swag on me shoulder I'm free
And I pity the navvy and the miner
Now, some people like me some think I'm a nut
And, some say I'm lazy 'cause I like the shortcut
But, a regular job gets a man in a rut, so
Hurray for the swag and the shiner.

Jack