2 weeks Ago By Carla Mascarenhas
Politicians from both major parties have condemned a small group of hecklers who interrupted an Anzac Day dawn service in Victoria. Login or signup to continue reading Bunurong elder Mark Brown's Welcome to Country at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne was disrupted when heckles and boos came from members of the crowd. "It's our country!" yelled one person.
"We don't have to be welcomed," another said. It is believed a prominent neo-Nazi figure was allegedly among those loudly booing. He was later led away by police.
It is understood he did not perform a Nazi salute, despite some reports. A spokesperson from Victoria Police said they were aware of a "small group of people' disrupting the dawn service. "Police identified a 26-year-old man from Kensington in relation to the behaviour," the spokesperson said.
"He has subsequently been interviewed for offensive behaviour, and police will proceed via summons. "The male has been directed to leave the Shrine of Remembrance." Opposition leader Peter Dutton defended the role of Welcome to Country ceremonies at Anzac events.
"Welcome to Country is an important part of official ceremonies and it should be respected, and I don't agree with the booing, and I don't agree in our democracy that people can't accept the views of others," he said. Mr Dutton said Neo-Nazis are a "stain on our national fabric and they are not part of the Australian culture". Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh described the booing as "disgraceful" to ABC radio.
"We know now that that booing was led by someone who's a known neo-Nazi," he said. "When we come together to commemorate on Anzac Day, we're commemorating some of those soldiers who fell in a war that was fought against that sort of hateful ideology." Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan labelled it a "hateful disruption".
"A neo-Nazi disrupting this day is appalling - it has no place here," she said. "Anzac Day honours the values our Anzacs lived and died for: courage, loyalty, mateship, and sacrifice. Those who booed in the dark showed they have none of these qualities,".
"To pierce the sombre silence of the dawn service is more than disrespect - it dishonours all who have served, fought and fallen." READ MORE: When Gen Z joined the army: why young people are signing up to serve Carla Mascarenhas is the NSW correspondent covering breaking news, state politics and investigations. She is based in Sydney.
Contact her on [email protected].
au Carla Mascarenhas is the NSW correspondent covering breaking news, state politics and investigations. She is based in Sydney. Contact her on carla.
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