Why prominent Yes campaigner Marcia Langton thinks Australia’s national anthem is offensive

Another video has emerged of Indigenous Voice to Parliament lawyer Marcia Langton labeling the Australian national anthem as offensive in a keynote address.

On Thursday, opponents of Voice circulated a video of Prof Langton criticizing the ‘Advance Australia Fair’ at an Australia and New Zealand School of Government conference in February 2019.

The images were taken before the lyrics of the national anthem were changed in 2021 from ‘because we are young and free’ to ‘because we are one and free’.

It was part of a keynote address attended by more than 400 civil servants, academics and Aboriginal and Maori leaders to discuss Indigenous issues, entitled: ‘Give money and power to the Indigenous sector’.

Towards the end of the 45-minute speech, Prof Langton commented on the national anthem, four days after a pre-season NRL clash between the Indigenous and Maori All Stars.

The Australian Indigenous All-Stars team sparked public outrage for refusing to sing the Australian national anthem after their Maori opponents proudly performed the New Zealand national anthem.

“I can tell you that when I watched the NRL All-stars match on Friday night, I had to sit down during the Australian national anthem,” Professor Langton said.

“The Maori people, with their treaty, and you know we don’t have one, could proudly sing the national anthem.

“I doubt I know any Aboriginal people who know the words of ours.

“If you read them, they’re even so offensive.

“We’re looking across the ditch at Maori progress, the Treaty of Waitangi, the Treaty of Waitangi Tribunal, your justice reinvestment programme, your economic development. It’s all possible, and I don’t see why it can’t be done here.’

Professor Marcia Langton claimed in a 2019 keynote address that she knew of no Aboriginal Aussies who knew the words of Advance Australia Fair

At the time, the NRL Indigenous All Stars caused controversy for not singing the national anthem at the 2019 All Stars match. Pictured is Latrell Mitchell leading the Indigenous battle cry

She also claimed that the then coalition federal government “couldn’t even think about treaties.”

“Government officials have little idea what we are talking about and must be quickly trained to understand these Indigenous priorities if a referendum is held on the proposed Uluru Declaration,” she said.

Earlier today, audio resurfaced in which Langton branded Australia a “terrible, racist country.”

The indigenous academic made the inflammatory comments in 2017 with the audio shared on 2GB on Thursday.

“What fantasy world do they live in that would make them even ask this question?” she said.

‘Of course Australia is racist. It’s a terrible, racist country.”

The newly unearthed comments come after Prof Langton was forced to deny calling No voters ‘racist and stupid’ at a referendum event at Perth’s Edith Cowan University this week on Sunday.

Instead, she clarified that she was “explaining how the No campaign uses fears and lies to scare No voters into voting No.”

“The No campaign claims that this referendum proposal will create apartheid and that is why it is very important to answer people’s questions and explain exactly how these types of campaigns work,” she said.

‘I absolutely deny it. There is a recording of what I said at the Bunbury meeting. And what I said is very clear.’

Audio of the meeting shows Prof Langton saying: ‘Every time the No cases make their arguments, when you start to pick it apart you end up with fundamental racism – I’m sorry to say that’s where it ends up – or sheer stupidity.

“If you look at any reputable fact-checker, everyone says the ‘No’ case is substantially false, they’re lying to you.”

Marcia Langton (left) and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) urge Australians to vote ‘Yes to the Vote’ on October 14