Politics · Australia · 7 hrs ago
Seekers songwriter says CPAC used I Am Australian without permission
I Am Australian was performed during the opening ceremony of a Conservative Political Action Conference in Brisbane on Saturday.
Co-writer Bruce Woodley said permission was neither sought nor given.
The song, written by Woodley and Dobe Newton in 1987, celebrates unity among people from different backgrounds.
After the performance, speakers including Pauline Hanson and opposition leader Angus Taylor criticised what they called mass immigration.
Newton said he and Woodley had previously threatened legal action when Hanson tried to use the song in an election campaign, and that she changed her mind.
Copyright expert Mark Callaghan said permission is required for public performances, especially in a political setting.
CPAC organisers have been contacted for comment.
The Seekers’ Bruce Woodley said CPAC used “I Am Australian” without his permission.
The song was performed at the conference’s opening ceremony in Brisbane on Saturday and listed in its program.
Woodley and co-author Dobe Newton criticised the use, saying the song’s message of unity conflicted with anti-immigration views expressed at the event.
Newton said he and Woodley had previously threatened legal action when Pauline Hanson tried to use the song in an election campaign.
A copyright expert said permission must be sought and approved for a public performance.
- Who
- CPAC used the song; its co-author Bruce Woodley said no permission had been sought or given.
- What
- I Am Australian” was performed at the conference and included in its program without the co-author’s approval.
- When
- The performance was on Saturday. Woodley commented on Monday.
- Where
- The conference was in Brisbane, Australia.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No permission was either sought or given by me for the use of my song
I would absolutely never endorse the use of the song associated with those purposes
We said to each other ‘what planet is she on’?
The bottom line is permission must be sought and approved for any public performance, especially in that political context
Bruce Woodley and Dobe Newton co-wrote “I Am Australian”.
The song was used with permission in Australian Republican Movement advertisements during the referendum.
Both the yes and no campaigns for the voice to parliament referendum approached Woodley and Newton to use the song, and both were denied.
I Am Australian” was performed at CPAC’s opening ceremony in Brisbane.
Woodley said he had neither sought nor given permission for the use.
- Song
- I Am Australian
- Co-authors
- Bruce Woodley and Dobe Newton
- Conference
- Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)
- Location
- Brisbane
- Use
- Performed at the opening ceremony and listed in the official program agenda
Sources
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