Colin Hay accuses far right of using Down Under without permission

Colin Hay, the singer-songwriter best known as the voice behind Men at Work’s signature hit, has publicly told organizers of the right-leaning “March For Australia” to stop using his song at their rallies. The dispute matters because “Down Under” is widely treated as an informal national anthem, and Hay says its message conflicts with the marchers’ politics.

In a recent statement, Hay made clear he will not authorize the use of “Down Under” for those events, arguing the track was written as a celebration of diversity and togetherness rather than a soundtrack for exclusionary politics. He closed his message by identifying himself as an immigrant, underlining the personal stakes behind his position.

Why the artist pushed back

The song has long been a staple of Australian identity—played at sporting fixtures, pubs and national celebrations around the world. That widespread cultural presence is exactly why Hay says the marchers’ use is inappropriate: the composition, he contends, supports pluralism and inclusion, not xenophobia.

Hay’s objection is framed around unauthorized use. Musicians can withhold permission for public performances or licensing if they deem a particular association harmful to the song’s meaning or their reputation.

What this means for the march and for public events

Organizers who rely on familiar anthems often assume doing so is harmless. But artists can—and sometimes do—refuse to let their work be used by political movements that run counter to the songwriter’s values. That creates practical and reputational choices for event planners: find a different track, obtain a formal license but face public backlash, or risk legal challenges and bad press.

In plain terms: the controversy spotlights how cultural symbols can be contested in public life, and how creators still exert control over how their work is deployed.

Quick facts about the song and Men at Work

• Original impact: “Down Under,” from the album Business As Usual, was a global hit in the early 1980s and became a go-to tune for Australian gatherings.
• Commercial resurgence: A drum-and-bass reworking by Australian producer Luude, featuring Hay’s vocals, returned the song to the charts and reached the U.K. Top 10 in 2021.
• Streaming: The track has accumulated more than one billion streams across platforms.
• Legal history: A long-running dispute over a flute riff led to a legal settlement that awarded a small percentage of the song’s royalties to a claimant who alleged similarity to a children’s tune.
• Recognition: Men at Work entered the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1994; Hay received the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music in 2023.

Wider context

Artists reclaiming control over how their music is used is not new, but it tends to gain attention when a well-known song intersects with heated political moments. The public reaction often tests the boundary between artistic rights and free expression in civic spaces.

For audiences and event organizers, the immediate consequence is practical: those planning the March For Australia or similar rallies will need to choose alternative music or face criticism and potential legal hurdles. For cultural observers, the episode is a reminder that popular songs can carry meanings their creators actively defend.

Hay’s stance leaves one clear public message: his song should not be repurposed to support causes that contradict its original spirit of unity.