Jarrod Bleijie says University of the Sunshine Coast’s decision to play Judith Durham’s version of Advance Australia Fair with emphasis on Indigenous heritage ‘offended’ him

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A Queensland MP is outraged after a university played a revised version of the national anthem at an official function.

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Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie, the state’s former attorney general, said he was attending his alma mater University of the Sunshine Coast’s 20th anniversary event last month when the reworked version was played.

The university said the lyrics in Advance Australia Fair don’t represent contemporary views, so it was decided to play Judith Durham’s version instead.

In her version, the Seekers’ lead vocalist emphasises Australia’s Indigenous heritage, with lyrics like “and honouring the Dreaming” and “combine our ancient history and cultures everywhere”.

Bleijie said it was inappropriate for the university to play the new lyrics at an official event.

“I’m disappointed and offended, but there were many people in the crowd who I know felt the same,” he said. “It’s important to make a stand against this because it’s wrong.”

Bleijie rejected the university’s claim the anthem was out of date, given it was only voted on in 1977 and was full of inclusive language.

He said he had written an official letter of complaint to the university and also wrote to the federal education minister, Simon Birmingham.

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The Queensland opposition leader, Lawrence Springborg, said that if there was wide appeal to change the anthem, which he argued there wasn’t, change shouldn’t be driven by university activists.

“These things should always be driven by the Australian people,” he said. “It should not be indoctrinated from on high.”

Comment from the university has been sought.