In cities across Australia and New Zealand, hundreds of thousands gathered for Anzac Day services and marches to pay homage to their nation’s war victims. The ceremonies, held on April 25, remember the 1915 landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli, marking their first major engagement in World War I. The day saw high-profile leaders taking part, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton halting their election campaigns briefly to join the commemorations.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon attended a ceremony at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli to honor the significant contributions made by New Zealand’s 16,000 soldiers during the campaign. He spoke of the deep scars left on generations of New Zealanders due to the heavy price paid in the conflict. Luxon emphasized the bravery and grit displayed by the Anzacs while acknowledging the valor of their Turkish opponents. This gathering also included Princess Anne, who represented the British royal family, and Charles III’s representative in Australia, Governor-General Sam Mostyn. With the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II approaching, Charles III extended gratitude to New Zealand’s surviving veterans, of whom only 81 remain. Albanese chose to join a dawn service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, where he vowed to keep the memory of past services alive for future generations. Dutton placed a wreath during a similar ceremony in Brisbane.
However, the day was not without incident. In Melbourne, a dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance, attended by about 50,000 people, was marred by hecklers. The disruptions began when Indigenous Australian Mark Brown conducted a “Welcome to Country” ceremony. Some in the crowd jeered and shouted slogans associated with the minor party Trumpet of Patriots, which echoes former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies and is funded by tycoon Clive Palmer. Despite the interruption, Brown continued with encouragement and applause from the majority. Minister for Veterans Affairs, Matt Keogh, attributed the incident in Melbourne to a known neo-Nazi and criticized it as promoting hateful ideologies that Anzac Day stands against. The individual responsible was asked to leave and is expected to face legal consequences.
In Perth, a similar occurrence took place during another “Welcome to Country” ceremony. This was met with sharp criticism from Western Australia’s Premier Roger Cook, who called the disruption unacceptable. He stressed that Anzac Day is a solemn event meant for communal reflection and unity, and using it for political purposes is deemed disrespectful. The incidents signify a troubling clash during what is traditionally a day of respect and remembrance in both nations.