I Am Australian co-writer 'not happy' song used at conservative conference

One of the writers of a classic Australian song has called out a conservative political conference for using his work without permission.

I Am Australian was co-written by Dobe Newton from the folk and country group The Bushwackers in 1987, along with Bruce Woodley of The Seekers.

Mr Newton said he never gave permission for the song to be played at the Australian Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), which took place in Brisbane on October 10 and 11.

"I was surprised and I'm not happy, Jan," he said.

According to a CPAC program, the song was sung by opera singers in an opening ceremony, along with Advance Australia Fair and Waltzing Matilda.

Mr Newton said he was not approached by anyone from CPAC and was only informed of its use after being approached by media.

Bruce Woodley recently told other media outlets permission had not been sought or granted from him either.

The ABC has contacted CPAC for comment.

Song celebrates multiculturalism

I Am Australian is often considered an unofficial Australian anthem, played at major sporting events and covered for significant national occasions.

In 2023, a cover of the song by Judith Durham, Russell Hitchcock and Mandawuy Yunupingu was added to the National Film and Sound Archives' Sounds of Australia.

Mr Newton said it was not appropriate for the song to be played at an event that included speeches mentioning proposed migration cuts from One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor.

"People will interpret it how they want but its specific use to promote a certain political point of view, as far as we're concerned, isn't appropriate," he said.

"The whole point of writing it was to celebrate our multicultural nation.

"Any move to associate it with a call to end migration is a bit ironic, I think."

Mr Newton said other attempts to use the song by political groups had been denied.

"When we had The Voice Referendum, both sides of the argument got in touch with Bruce and myself to ask for permission to use it as part of their campaigning," he said.

"We politely declined to give either of them permission."

Copyright laws in question

Mr Newton said artists had moral rights to their work that theoretically protected against derogatory uses.

"If your song is used in a situation where you think it's derogatory to the song itself or your reputation, then you have the ability to say, 'No, you don't have permission,'" he said.

But CEO and principal lawyer at Arts Law Australia, Louise Buckingham, said the complexity of copyright law made it challenging for artists to push the rights.

"It can be very difficult to enforce your rights, particularly if you're vulnerable and the less deep pocketed party in a dispute,"

she said.

"We all benefit from [I Am Australian] and it's been used to such good effect in so many meaningful contexts that's enriched so many people's lives.

"It's such a kick in the teeth for artist when it's misused and when it's used without their consent and permission."

Mr Newton said more needed to be done to protect artists.

"The kindest interpretation would be that people aren't familiar with the fact that if you're going to use somebody's song in a political context, you need to seek permission," he said.

"But the other side of it is that they just don't think that it's important enough to respect the people who create the works."