The CPAC Singalong That Was Never Cleared: Who Controls I Am Australian
Bruce Woodley says CPAC used I Am Australian at its Brisbane conference on Saturday without his permission. He says the group neither asked him nor received approval.
The song was sung as part of the opening ceremony, according to The Guardian. It followed the national anthem and Waltzing Matilda. It was also listed in the official conference program. It was programmed, not a spontaneous singalong.
I Am Australian was co-written by Woodley, of the Seekers, and Dobe Newton in 1987. Woodley says no permission was sought or given by him.
Newton says he would absolutely never endorse use of the song for CPAC's purposes. For co-written songs, both writers must approve political use. A no from either blocks authorised use.
Newton says Pauline Hanson previously tried to use the song in an election campaign. He says he and Woodley sent a solicitor's letter threatening to sue Hanson. She then changed her mind about using it.
For anyone who has covered these disputes before, the method is familiar. Artists often prefer a quick solicitor's letter to a long public fight.
Both the Yes and No campaigns asked Woodley and Newton to use I Am Australian during the 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum. Both were refused.
In Canberra terms, that history matters. The writers have said no to the left and the right. CPAC cannot claim the song was available for political use.
The song has been used in politics with permission. The Australian Republican Movement used it in radio and television advertisements during the 1999 referendum. The 1997 recording by Judith Durham, Russell Hitchcock and Dr M Yunupingu was added to the National Film and Sound Archive registry in 2023.
After the song at CPAC, speakers including Pauline Hanson and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor condemned what they called "mass immigration".
Ganggajang leader Mark Callaghan says CPAC's unauthorised use was illegal. He says permission must be sought for public performance.
The broader context here is simple for campaign staff. A song in a printed program, performed after the anthem at an opening ceremony, counts as a public performance under copyright. Callaghan's view of the law will be tested if the writers proceed. Organisers cannot treat a well-known chorus as public property.
Looking at what this means for party and conference organisers, the Voice case is the guide. Woodley and Newton refused both sides in 2023 and approved the republicans in 1999. Their approach is selective, not partisan. Ask early, expect a no, and have a backup.
