Bruce Woodley, a member of the Australian band The Seekers, has criticised the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) for featuring the song 'I Am Australian' without approval. The song was performed during CPAC's opening ceremony in Brisbane on Saturday, 10 October 2026, and was also listed in the official conference program.
Woodley, who co-wrote the song in 1987 with Dobe Newton, stated on Monday that no permission was sought or given for its use. Newton also condemned the use, noting that the song's theme of unity in diversity conflicts with the anti-immigration views expressed at the conference. He recalled threatening Pauline Hanson with legal action when she attempted to use the song in a previous election campaign, leading her to change her mind.
Mark Callaghan, a board member of copyright management organisations APRA-AMCOS, described CPAC's unauthorised use as illegal, stating that permission must be sought and approved for any public performance, particularly in a political context.