Aussies react after Welcome to Country ceremony was hijacked by neo-Nazis on Anzac Day
A group of apparent neo-Nazis who booed a Welcome to Country during an Anzac Day dawn service in Melbourne have sparked a fierce criticism from Australians.
Thousands of people travelled in the pre-dawn darkness on Friday to commemorate those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
But a group of between six and ten people, allegedly including prominent neo-Nazi figure Jacob Hersant, heckled and booed during Bunurong elder Mark Brown's Welcome to Country at the start of the event.
'It's our country!' one yelled.
'We don't have to be welcomed,' screamed another.
The boos and shouts lasted the entire three minutes of the address. When Victorian Governor Margaret Gardner delivered the official Anzac Day address afterwards, which acknowledged Aboriginal Australians, there were further boos.
Hersant, the leader of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network, was later seen in a heated exchange with a reporter.
'This is a day for Anzacs, it's not for Aboriginals,' he said before police intervened.
The group of hecklers allegedly included prominent neo-Nazi figure Jacob Hersant (pictured)
The incident has attracted condemnation from across the political spectrum and sparked debate about Welcome to Country ceremonies in Australia.
Asked if there should be a Welcome to Country at the service on Friday, 90 per cent of almost 8,000 respondents to a Daily Mail Australia poll answered 'No'.
Social media star Ethan Marrell, whose Ozzy Man Reviews accounts have 6.2million followers on YouTube and 2.3million on Instagram, slammed the hecklers in an angry spray on Friday.
'Yeah nah yeah, Neo-Nazis, f*** off,' Mr Marrell said, after watching footage of the heckling taking place.
'No matter what ceremony they perform for, you'd probably whinge.
'Indigenous people could call it Enjoy Your Country and the Caucasians will go 'why do I need to be told to enjoy me country, this isn't the time of the place for it'.
'They could call it Leave the Country and your smooth brain would definitely pop a f***ing aneursym.'
Reaction to Mr Marrell's video was mixed, with some praising his defence of the Welcome to Country, while others argued it had no place at the Dawn Service.
Social media star Ethan Marrell (pictured), whose account Ozzy Man Reviews has 2.3million followers, slammed the hecklers in a video on Friday
'Good on you Ozzy Man thanks for not sticking to comedy,' one supporter said.
'I'm so confused, why are they booing?' asked another.
'White settlers (and let's be real, prisoners serving a sentence of transportation) arrived in Australia only a handful of lifetimes ago, how can anyone think they're anywhere other than on another people's land?'
But others disagreed.
'We voted no champ. Today is not about some made up ceremony,' one said.
'Stick to your tired old jokes, instead of leftist politics,' said another.
Anthony Albanese on Friday labelled the behaviour of the hecklers a 'disgrace'.
'The disruption of Anzac Day is beyond contempt, and the people responsible must face the full force of the law,' the Prime Minister said.
'This was an act of low cowardice on a day when we honour courage and sacrifice.'
Opposition leader Peter Dutton also condemned the hecklers, branding them 'mentally unwell'.
The heckling continued for the entire three minutes of the Welcome to Country by Bunurong elder Mark Brown (pictured)
However, Mr Dutton has previously suggested Welcome to Country ceremonies are being used too often, describing how 'five or ten speakers' might each do an Acknowledgement of Country at a function.
Meanwhile Liberal frontbencher Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who is Indigenous, has previously claimed Australians were 'getting sick' of the ceremonies.
'There is no problem with acknowledging our history, but rolling out these performances before every sporting event or public gathering is definitely divisive,' she said.
Victoria Police confirmed a 26-year-old Melbourne man had been directed to leave Melbourne's Dawn Service.
The suspect had been interviewed over an allegation of offensive behaviour and would be issued a summons to appear in court, a spokesperson said.
Police did not identify the suspect, in line with their usual policy.
