As politicians across the country campaign for what they think the next national anthem should be, one major issue has been missed by all sides, and it is a disgrace to how far this country has come in embracing and celebrating multiculturalism and diversity. Contrary to what either side of politics would like you to think, there is a common theme amongst the "keep it as it is" and the "I Am Australian" camps: underlying racism and prejudice against a large number of Australians.

"I Am Australian" is satisfactory if the aim of this plebiscite is to find an anthem that validates the stereotypical viewpoint of what Australia is and our history. Whether it be the Gold Rush, or the English invasion of indigenous land (there is a small mention of Indigenous people), or modern art - I Am Australian ticks all the boxes for the virtue signalling the campaign is looking for. Virtue signalling that fundamentally misses the mark, and is a slap in the face to the hundreds of thousands of Australians who do not fit the stereotypical history of this country.

If "I Am Australian", a pop song designed to smooth the hearts of middle-class white privileged people becomes our anthem, then the Vietnamese people who migrated here after the Vietnam Wars have been forgotten and told that they do not actually matter. The Mediterranean migrants of Snowy Hydro, or the waves of Chinese migrants after the Gold Rush - entirely left in the dust. "I Am Australian" does not represent these people. It is fundamentally racist and prejudiced to claim that this anthem celebrates our diversity, and to all politicians - even my colleagues in the SDP - who support this anthem - shame on you.

We do have another option, which I am proud to endorse today. Waltzing Matilda, the anthem implemented by the DKR Socialist government and taken away from us by the successor Dyljam government. Despite not supporting the choice out of a wish for a democratic vote on the issue, I absolutely support this choice of anthem. A song that discusses the mystery and spirit of Australia, who we are, and what this country stands for is the only inclusive option in this race. It's the only option that actually celebrates our diversity, multiculturalism, and everyone who makes Australia what it is.

I encourage everyone to support Waltzing Matilda in the plebiscite, and to send a message to our politicians: your hypocrisy on racism and multiculturalism in 2020 is not welcome. Either admit you're supporting racism, or apologise.