A prominent neo-Nazi has been questioned for interrupting and yelling during a Welcome to Country at Anzac Day dawn service commemorations in Melbourne’s CBD.
Bunurong elder Uncle Mark Brown was delivering the Welcome to Country at the Shrine of Remembrance when a small section of the crowd booed early Friday morning.
Sky News cameras captured at least three men chanting and booing.
“Boo, stop it. What about the Anzacs,” one man shouted while Uncle Brown continued.
“We’re here for the Australians,” a second man yelled out.
Some of the 50,000-strong crowd attempted to drown out the trio by clapping and cheering.
Victorian Governor Margaret Gardner later acknowledged traditional land owners when more jeering was heard from the same section of the crowd.
It is understood police had difficulty trying to locate the man, but were able to find him when the sun rose, escorting him away from the Shrine of Remembrance.
Officers said they identified a 26-year-old man from Kensington who was interviewed for “offensive behaviour”, with the man to be charged and face court.
“Police are aware of a small group of people disrupting the dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance this morning. Police identified a 26-year-old man from Kensington in relation to the behaviour,” Victoria Police said in a statement to SkyNews.com.au.
“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.”
The 26-year-old has been identified as Jacob Hersant who was the first Victorian charged with performing the Nazi salute to journalists outside a court in October 2023, six days after the former Daniel Andrews government outlawed the gesture.
He was sentenced to one month jail but freed on bail pending an appeal.
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh told Sky News Australia that RSL Victoria was “pretty clear” that Anzac Day is for commemoration and peaceful respect.
“It’s not mandatory that people attend these services. It’s expected people who attend Anzac Day commemorations do so respectfully and it’s concerning some people didn’t show due respect at that service,” he said to First Edition host Peter Stefanovic.
Defence Minister Richard Marles described the act as “outrageous”.
“It was a small number of people. the vast majority of people who were here this morning were wanting to commemorate and acknowledge Anzac Day in the way we should expect. I think we shouldn’t give this anymore air time and it doesn’t deserve much,” he said.
Victorian Premier labelled the man’s actions as “beyond disrespectful”, urging more education is needed to help people and the young generation understands the Anzacs.
President of RSL Victoria Dr Robert Webster said the yelling and booing were “completely disrespectful” to the Aboriginal community, veterans and the spirit of Anzac Day.
“In response, the spontaneous applause from the 50,000-strong crowd attending the service drowned out those who disrupted, and showed the respect befitting of the occasion,” he said.
