A young man has been arrested at Sydney's Martin Place after he allegedly heckled an Aboriginal leader as he performed the Acknowledgement of Country. Pastor Uncle Ray Minniecon was interrupted by loud boos just seconds into his speech at the packed dawn service on Saturday morning.
NSW Police confirmed a 24-year-old man was arrested for 'an alleged act of nuisance' during the service while several other hecklers were moved on. Despite the boos, Uncle Ray bravely continued with his address and was met with loud applause when he finished.
Uncle Ray, an Indigenous serviceman whose grandfather served in the Light Horse Brigade, urged Aussies to show respect following the ceremony. 'We do have laws to try and deter people from this but it seems like these people still want to be lawless,' he told media at the event. 'They just need to realise their place in this country... and show their deepest respect.'
About 11,000 people attended the Martin Place service, up from last year's figure of 4,000. Up to 30,000 people attended a service at nearby North Bondi.
Condemnation from Officials
Acting president of RSL NSW, Brigadier Vincent Williams, was disgusted by the booing, describing it as 'disrespectful'. 'Anzac Day is the most sacred date on our national calendar. It is a time for quiet reflection, unity and respect - to honour the service and sacrifice of all who have served our nation,' he told reporters. 'It is particularly disappointing because Uncle Ray, who delivered the Acknowledgement of Country, is himself a veteran who has served Australia with pride. There is no place for such disruption or disrespect on Anzac Day. Australians rightly expect to come together in the spirit of unity, to honour service with the respect it deserves.'
NSW Premier Chris Minns echoed his sentiments, saying he was disappointed by the actions of a 'small number of people' at Martin Place. 'Anzac Day should always be treated with the respect, solemnity and reverence it deserves,' he said in a statement. 'Whilst I've never before heard booing like that at a dawn service, I've also never heard a crowd spontaneously applaud as they did for Uncle Ray Minniecon. That act made it clear what the views of the vast majority attending were. This is a day to honour sacrifice.'
Similar Incident in Melbourne
There was also booing in Melbourne at the Shrine of Remembrance for the second successive year during the Acknowledgement of Country. More than 50,000 people were in attendance to pay tribute to the men and women who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice to protect Australia. Indigenous leader Uncle Mark Brown delivered the Acknowledgement of Country, but was interrupted by boos from the crowd. He said: 'Today, I'm here to welcome everyone to my father's country.' But it was followed by boos for about 30 seconds before others cheered in support of Uncle Mark, who was also booed at last year's dawn service.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the booing, saying politicising Anzac Day was an act of 'bastardry'. 'To break the stillness of dawn service is not just ugly behaviour towards our Aboriginal servicemen and women who defended this country, it disrespects everyone who fought and died for our freedoms,' Allan said. 'Anzac Day is not a stage for division. It is about service, mateship, sacrifice and we will never let a hateful few take that away.'
Just 24 hours earlier, Allan had told far-right extremists not to disturb Anzac Day commemorations and 'stay home'. 'If anyone is thinking of coming to an Anzac Day service with the intent to disrupt or disrespect the fallen and their families, then stay home. Don't come, because that's not the Australian way,' she said.
At a dawn service in Adelaide, a small section of the crowd started to boo but were quickly shut down.
Further Reactions
RSL Victoria President Dr Mark Schroffel described the hecklers as 'weak-minded individuals', while RSL Australia National President Peter Tinley said the hecklers did 'not belong' at Anzac Day commemorations.
The Governor of Victoria, Margaret Gardner, acknowledged the traditional land owners of the land while giving the official Anzac Day address.
In Melbourne's north, locals shared photos of anti-veteran rhetoric sprayed in red paint near Reservoir Cenotaph. The words 'kill the troops' and 'f*** Anzacs' were sprayed on the walls of the Reservoir RSL in the hours before the dawn service on Saturday morning.
