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Seekers Band Members Challenge CPAC’s Use of “I Am Australian”
By Drooid · · How we work
Unauthorized Performance at the Brisbane Conference
The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) featured a rendition of “I Am Australian” during its opening ceremony in Brisbane, following the national anthem and “Waltzing Matilda.” The song, co-written in 1987 by Bruce Woodley of the Seekers and Dobe Newton of the Bushwackers, was listed on the official program despite the authors not granting permission. Woodley and Newton said the song’s message of “unity in diversity” clashes with the anti-immigration stance expressed by speakers such as Pauline Hanson and opposition leader Angus Taylor.
Band Members’ Formal Objections
Woodley publicly stated that CPAC did not seek or receive consent for the performance. “No permission was either sought or given by me for the use of my song,” — Bruce Woodley Newton added that he would never endorse the song’s use in that context. “I would absolutely never endorse the use of the song associated with those purposes,” — Bushwackers’ Dobe Newton He recalled a prior incident when Hanson attempted to use the song in an election campaign; the authors responded with a solicitor’s letter, prompting her to withdraw the request. “We said to each other ‘what planet is she on’?” — Bushwackers’ Dobe Newton
Copyright and Enforcement Issues
Mark Callaghan, leader of the band Ganggajang and board member of APRA-AMCOS, described the unauthorised use as illegal, emphasizing that public performances—especially in political settings—require explicit permission.
Broader Implications for Political Use of Cultural Works
The incident highlights a recurring problem where political groups attach well-known Australian songs to their messaging without clearance, potentially misleading audiences about the artists’ endorsement. The 1997 recording of “I Am Australian,” featuring Judith Durham, Russell Hitchcock and Dr M Yunupingu, is a registered national standard and has been used with permission in past political campaigns, such as the 1999 republican referendum. Its unauthorised deployment at CPAC raises questions about respect for copyright and the integrity of cultural symbols in political discourse.