Outrage at Harper’s protest
Australian politicians vent anger after 9-year-old refuses to stand for anthem
Harper Nielsen has become a target of nationwide condemnation from lawmakers for remaining seated during the Australian national anthem.
She disrespected the troops, one lawmaker said. Pauline Hanson, her state senator, said she was “brainwashed” and offered to give her “a kick up the backside”. Harper is 9 years old.
She refused to stand out of recognition of the nation’s aboriginal population, she said, suggesting the country does not represent their interests in the same way it does white Australians.
Harper was given detention at Kenmore South State School in Queensland, and her parents said she had been threatened with suspension, though school officials deny the threat.
Her protest is an echo of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the US national anthem to protest police brutality.
“When it says Advance Australia Fair, it means advance the white people,” Harper told 9 News, describing the anthem’s lyrics.
“And when it says we are young, it completely disregards the indigenous Australians who were here before us for 50,000 years.”
The incident and remarks drew criticism from politicians, including former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who suggested it signals “good manners” to stand while the anthem plays. Australia’s indigenous population
of 2 million is plagued with higher unemployment than the general population, a lower life expectancy by a decade and higher rates of suicide, obesity and alcoholism.
Hanson, a far right nationalist politician who represents Harper’s state, has long been critical of extending resources to indigenous Australians. She took to social media to express her outrage — and blame Harper’s parents. “It’s about who we are as a nation, it’s part of us,” Hanson said in a video on Wednesday. “Here we have a kid who’s been brainwashed. And I’ll tell you what, I’d give her a kick up the backside.”
Jarrod Bleijie, a shadow education minister and member of the Queensland Parliament, accused Harper’s parents of using their daughter as a “political pawn”. “Refusing to stand disrespects our country and our veterans. Suspension should follow if she continues to act like a brat,” he said on Twitter.
Harper’s father, Mark Nielsen, told 9 News that his daughter is a “very brave young person” for taking a stand. Harper’s mother, Yvette Miller, called the school’s reaction too severe, News 9 reported.
“We were surprised behaviour such as a passive nonparticipation might be considered in the same realm as something like bringing a knife to school or being violent toward others,” Miller said.