Northern Territory Mandates National Anthem in Schools

Public school students in the Northern Territory of Australia will now be required to sing the national anthem at all assemblies and special events. This decision was announced on October 3, 2023, by the territory’s Education Minister, Jo Hersey, as part of a policy aimed at fostering a sense of national pride.

Hersey, representing the Country Liberal Party government, emphasized the importance of instilling Australian values in students. “We are Australian, and in the Northern Territory, students will be taught what it means to be an Australian and to be proud of their country,” she stated in a formal announcement.

Under the new policy, students will learn about national symbols, including the anthem, through the civics and citizenship section of the Australian curriculum. The anthem, Advance Australia Fair, will also be taught in the arts section. While singing the anthem is now mandatory, the decision to incorporate Welcome to Country practices will remain at the discretion of individual schools.

The policy specifies that both verses of the anthem must be sung in English, with alternative words and modifications to the tune prohibited. Students are expected to stand during the performance.

Support for the initiative came from Northern Territory Country Liberal Party senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who argued that the policy is crucial for “building a shared national identity.”

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare also expressed his approval, noting that the anthem is already sung in many schools across Australia. “This is the best country in the world… so if kids are singing that in the NT and other parts of the country, I reckon that’s a good thing,” he commented in an interview with Seven’s Sunrise.

The practice of singing the national anthem varies across Australian states. In Victoria, for example, schools are prohibited from compelling students to recite a pledge or participate in patriotic ceremonies if there are objections based on religious or cultural grounds. A spokesperson from the Tasmanian education department mentioned that while a rigid daily requirement does not exist, the anthem is commonly sung at assemblies.

In Queensland, no formal policy dictates when the national anthem is played in public schools. The national anthem protocols state that Advance Australia Fair is an essential symbol of the nation and should be treated with respect. These protocols encourage all Australians to sing the anthem in English, without modifying the tune or tempo and while standing.

Notably, in January 2021, the second line of the anthem was altered from “For we are young and free” to “For we are one and free,” reflecting a recognition of the legacy of Indigenous Australians.

As the Northern Territory implements this policy, it marks a significant step in reinforcing national identity among students, while also aligning with broader conversations about the role of patriotism in education across Australia.