Anzac Day Honored Across Australia, NZ Despite Protests \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Hundreds of thousands attended Anzac Day commemorations across Australia and New Zealand on Friday, honoring the soldiers lost in war. Services were held from Gallipoli to Canberra, with top leaders in attendance. Some Australian events were marred by hecklers protesting Indigenous acknowledgements.
Quick Looks
- April 25 marks the Gallipoli landing by Australian and New Zealand forces in WWI
- Prime Ministers Albanese and Luxon led ceremonies in Canberra and Turkey
- Anzac Day drew large crowds in Australia and New Zealand for dawn services
- King Charles sent a message honoring WWII veterans in New Zealand
- Protests disrupted Indigenous tributes during services in Melbourne and Perth
- Neo-Nazi-linked hecklers condemned for targeting Welcome to Country speakers
- Australian officials called disruptions “disrespectful” and “unacceptable”
- A man will face court after being removed from a service in Melbourne
- New Zealand continues to honor surviving WWII veterans—only 81 remain
- Political leaders paused campaigning out of respect for Anzac Day
Deep Look
Anzac Day, one of the most solemn and deeply respected observances in Australia and New Zealand, was marked Friday by massive public gatherings, moving ceremonies, and moments of silence across the region. From the beaches of Gallipoli to the streets of Canberra and Auckland, thousands paid tribute to those who gave their lives in military service.
The day, held annually on April 25, commemorates the 1915 landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) at Gallipoli, Turkey—an ill-fated World War I campaign that forged a new sense of national identity for both countries. This year marked the 110th anniversary of that landing.
Leaders Across Nations Lead Tributes
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton temporarily paused their election campaigns in a rare bipartisan gesture of respect. Albanese attended the dawn service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, addressing a crowd of 25,000 people.
“Each year, we renew our vow to keep the flame of memory burning so brightly that its glow touches the next generation and the generation after that,” Albanese said.
In New Zealand, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made the symbolic journey to Gallipoli, joining thousands of others at the historic site. King Charles III, New Zealand’s head of state, sent a message specifically honoring the nation’s remaining 81 WWII veterans, thanking them for their service as the 80th anniversary of WWII’s end approaches.
Meanwhile, Dutton laid a wreath at a local service in his home city of Brisbane, joining the broader chorus of national reflection.
Hecklers Disrupt Services Over Indigenous Tributes
Despite the reverent tone of most Anzac Day observances, not all services were free of tension. In Melbourne, a Welcome to Country ceremony—an Indigenous Australian tradition acknowledging traditional land ownership—was disrupted by hecklers at the Shrine of Remembrance. The protest escalated during references to Indigenous soldiers, with shouts such as “this is our country” and “we don’t have to be welcomed,” echoing slogans of the far-right Trumpet of Patriots party, reportedly backed by mining magnate Clive Palmer.
The man leading the Welcome to Country, Mark Brown, was supported by the broader crowd, who drowned out the hecklers with applause and calls to continue.
Veterans Affairs Minister Matt Keogh condemned the actions:
“We’re commemorating some of those soldiers who fell in a war that was fought against that sort of hateful ideology… it’s not something that is welcome at Anzac Day commemorations ever.”
Police confirmed that a 26-year-old man was removed from the Melbourne event and will be summoned to appear in court for offensive behavior.
A similar incident occurred in Perth, where the main state service was briefly disrupted by a heckler targeting another Welcome to Country. Western Australia Premier Roger Cook labeled the act “disgusting” and “totally disrespectful.”
“This is a solemn occasion… for someone to use it to make a political point in that disrespectful way is really quite unacceptable,” Cook added.
Anzac Day’s Dual Legacy: Unity and Ongoing Struggles
While Anzac Day unites Australians and New Zealanders in remembrance, the recent disruptions also highlight ongoing cultural divisions, particularly surrounding the role of First Nations people in national commemorations. Many Indigenous Australians have served with distinction in wars, yet their recognition remains a point of societal tension.
The protests targeting Indigenous rituals on such a day underscore broader political undercurrents that have come to define recent public discourse in Australia—fueled in part by right-wing populist movements and debates over identity, nationalism, and historical memory.
Yet, the overwhelming public support for inclusive ceremonies and recognition of all service members—regardless of race or background—signals that Anzac Day continues to evolve, embracing a broader definition of national service and sacrifice.
As leaders, veterans, and citizens gathered under the rising sun, they renewed a collective promise: to remember the fallen, honor the survivors, and carry forward the legacy of unity forged in the most trying times of war.
Anzac Day Honored
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