Restoring National pride in Northern Territory Government schools

27 January 2026

The Finocchiaro CLP Government is restoring National pride in Northern Territory Government schools, with schools directed to play and sing the National Anthem under a new policy introduced by the Minister for Education and Training.

The new policy ‘Assemblies, special events and the Australian National Anthem’ mandates all schools to play and sing the National Anthem at school assemblies and special events.

As part of the policy, students in classrooms will now learn about National symbols such as the National Anthem and what it means to the Australian identity through the Civics and Citizenship learning area in the Australian Curriculum.

Singing and performing the Anthem can also be explicitly taught through the Arts learning area in the Australian Curriculum.

The Department of Education and Training has never had a policy requiring schools to sing the national anthem at assemblies and for the learning of National symbols. From 2026, this changes.

Minister for Education and Training, Jo Hersey, said the former NT Labor Government saw National pride as optional.

“For too long, Labor turned a blind eye to schools not participating in the National Anthem and deliberately allowed a sense of National pride to be watered down,” she said.

“Children have been deprived of feeling proud to be Australian.

“The Australian National Anthem encourages a sense of national pride and instils Australian values on the next generation of Territorians.

“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.

“Singing our unifying National Anthem is mandatory, Welcome to Country practices remain the same and at the discretion of individual schools.”

Consistent with the Australian National Anthem use and protocol schools must ensure:

• Both verses of the Anthem are to be used.
• It is customary, for those who can, to stand during the singing of the anthem.
• The tune or tempo of the Anthem should not be modified, and alternative words should not be used. There are 4 recordings for use in NT Government schools. Schools may select one of the four recordings that align to national protocols.
• The Anthem should be performed in English.

Media contact – Zac Webster – 0418 670 192