Australia: Brave 9-year-old Refuses To Stand Up For National Anthem Out Of Respect For Indigenous People, Leaves Right-wing Politicians Fuming

A nine-year-old Austrian girl, Harper Nielsen, refused to stand up during the National Anthem out of respect for the nation’s Indigenous population.  

Talking to Nine News, Nielsen said that she believes the Australian National Anthem completely disregards indigenous Australians, who comprise 2 per cent of Australia’s population.  

“The anthem, titled ‘Advance Australia Fair,’ contains the line Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free. (But) when it says Advance Australia Fair, it means advance the white people,” Nielsen said. 

She added, “And when it says ‘we are young’ it completely disregards the indigenous Australians who were here before us for 50,000 years.” 

However, Nielsen’s stand for indigenous population didn’t go down well with several right-wing politicians, reported CNN. 

Right-wing senator Pauline Hanson claimed that schools were “brainwashing” students and demanded that Nielsen be “taken out” from her school. In a statement, Hanson said, “”It’s about who we are as a nation, it’s part of us … Here we have a kid who’s been brainwashed and I’ll tell you what, I’d give her a kick up the backside. This kid is headed down the wrong path and I blame the parents for encouraging this.” 

Queensland Liberal National politician Jarrod Bleijie, took to Twitter and accused Nielsen’s parents of using her as “political pawn.”  

He wrote, “Shame on her parents for using her as a political pawn. Stop the silly protest and stand and sing proudly your National Anthem. Refusing to stand disrespects our country and our veterans. Suspension should follow if she continues to act like a brat.” 

On the other hand, Nielsen’s parents are proud of her for standing-up for what she believes in. “(I’m) amazed at her capacity for seeing things that don’t feel right and having the strength to try and right them. I don’t have that, so to see someone so young is really astonishing, and I’m just incredibly proud,” said father, Mark Nielsen. 

“People can say what they want. Calling her a brat without having actually met her seems a little weak-minded but again, I defend their right to be free to say what they feel,” he added.