A Melbourne school is defending its decision to not play the national anthem at a recent awards night, saying it was simply responding to student requests to respect their Indigenous classmates.

And the principal of the school says the anthem could be finished in its current form.

3AW Drive was contacted by a parent on Wednesday, who said they were furious about the decision.

“You don’t have to (play it), there is no law that tells us we should,” James Laussen, principal of Overnewton College, said on 3AW Drive.

Press PLAY below to find out how the decision was reached