Australian anthem ‘too white’ for nine-year-old

A GIRL aged nine is at the centre of debate in Australia after refusing to stand at school for the national anthem.

Harper Nielsen was given a lunchtime detention last week for protesting against Advance Australia Fair, a song that she says was written only for white Australians. After local media in Queensland reported on her stance, she told national broadcaster ABC that when the song says “we are young”, it “completely disregards the indigenous Australians who were here before us”.

Harper said the protest was her idea but she had discussed the issue with her parents. Her father, Mark, said: “I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Queensland education department denied that Harper had been threatened with expulsion and said the school’s principal had met her and her family to discuss alternatives to her protest, such as agreeing to stand for the anthem but not singing.

The protest angered Right-wingers. Pauline Hanson, a controversial politician, called Harper a “brat” who needed “a kick up the backside”.