Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned the booing and heckling of welcome to country ceremonies during Anzac Day services in Melbourne and Perth, labeling it “a low act of cowardice” that disrespects the nation’s values of courage and sacrifice.
What Happened?
A small group of people disrupted the welcome ceremony in Melbourne, led by a known neo-Nazi, according to Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh.
Meanwhile, in Perth, an acknowledgment was interrupted by a person shouting obscenities. The disruptions were widely condemned by politicians and the public alike.
A Solemn Occasion Disrupted
The Western Australian Premier, Roger Cook, described the heckling in Perth as “disgusting” and “totally disrespectful.”
He emphasized that Anzac Day is a time for the community to come together and show respect.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles expressed a sense of outrage in the crowd, while some attendees shouted back at the hecklers, chanting “Always was, always will be.”
Politics at Play
Despite the bipartisan condemnation, some minor parties and conservative campaign groups have attempted to make welcome to country ceremonies an election issue.
Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots party ran ads on news.com.au with the headline “sick of being welcomed to our country.”
Another group, Advance, launched social media ads featuring Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s image, calling for an end to public funding for ceremonies and labeling them “wasteful and divisive.”
A Call to Action
Prime Minister Albanese urged those responsible for the disruptions to face the full force of the law.
He emphasized the importance of respecting Australia’s Indigenous heritage and celebrating the nation’s values of courage and sacrifice.
As the election campaign heats up, it remains to be seen whether the issue of welcome to country ceremonies will continue to be a point of contention.