Prime minister blasts 'terrible' techno anthem

Australia’s prime minister, John Howard, branded as “terrible” a three-minute dance version of the country’s national anthem, due to be played at Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebration.

The revved-up version of Advance Australia Fair features a woman singing the anthem’s traditional words to a stomping techno beat.

The song will be played for a probable million-strong crowd expected to cram around Sydney Harbour to watch a fireworks show on December 31.

But Howard said he did not believe the anthem should be tinkered with.

“I think it sounds terrible,” he told 6PR radio station in Perth.

“I have a very strong view that the national anthem should be sung and played in a way that facilitates maximum audience participation in its singing.

“Most importantly, it should encourage and allow people to sing along – and nobody can sing along to that.”