Senator Cory Bernardi and the Australian Conservatives have come under fire after creating an Australia Day Spotify playlist as an alternative to triple j's iconic Hottest 100.
The announcement read: "Cory Bernardi launches the #AC100, an alternative to Triple J's 'Hottest 100' after they abandoned Australia Day."
"As taxpayer-funded triple j and their ‘Hottest 100’ abandon our national day for political correctness, we’re inviting you to cast your vote by telling us your favourite 3 tracks from our #AC100 playlist."
The playlist was met with fervent backlash from Savage Garden lead singer Darren Hayes, who was not happy with his music being used to promote the Australian Conservatives agenda.
"Hi Cory Bernardi and Australian Conservatives. I do not want to be associated with you, your party or your views. Remove my music from this stunt or expect contact from my publisher," he wrote during a series of Twitter posts.
Australian hip-hop band the Hilltop Hoods expressed their message in a short and sharp tweet.
"Go f*** yourself Cory Bernardi," it read.
Senator Bernardi responded on ABC Radio on Thursday claiming it was part of his party's move to encourage Australians to celebrate Australia Day.
When he was asked if he was politicising the music for his party's movement, the senator hit back claiming the name doesn't matter.
"So here we go, all of a sudden I am not allowed to create a playlist on a music streaming service, to which I subscribe, because I'm politicising it?" he said.
"This is nonsensical. We have established the name doesn't matter. Let's be clear, I've created a playlist, you have seized upon a tweet by an Australian artist, who I don't even know lives in the country, who doesn't want to be on the playlist.
"This is the type of intolerant censorship we have warned about for such a long time."
Senator Bernardi added that artists should not be allowed to decide if their music is used in playlists just because they don't agree with someone's political view.
Radio host Hamish McDonald hit back claiming Mr Hayes was upset because the playlist was being publicised as part of the party's movement since it was all over its social media feed, but Senator Bernardi denied the claim.
"[Darren Hayes] gets a royalty for every time it's played, he should be thanking us," the senator said.
"This is the blurring of lines between what people are allowed to do and this forced ideological blinker thinking when you get abuse because someone thinks differently to you," he added.
SBS News has reached out to the Hilltop Hoods for comment.
