Liberal leader Angus Taylor has sided with the far-left in condemning patriotic Aussies who booed “welcome to country” ceremonies in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth on Anzac Day.
Loud boos erupted when the humiliation rituals were performed before dawn services by professional aboriginal Mark Brown at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, by anti-Australian activist Ray Minniecon at Martin Place in Sydney, and by Di Ryder in Perth.
The booing sparked anger from left-wing politicians and activists while many everyday Australians responded on social media by saying “welcome to countries” have no place on Anzac Day and there would have been no heckling if the left was not trying to politicise the services.
There was no booing during other parts of the services, or at events where there was no “welcome to country”, such as in Townsville, which was attended by Queensland Premier David Crisafulli.
The president of the local RSL sub-branch confirmed on Sunday it had decided not to include one, saying: “The Anzac Day Dawn Service is about one thing, remembering those who have served and have paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
On Sunday Mr Taylor weighed in on the controversy on ABC’s Insiders where he joined Australia’s wokest politicians in criticising the booing.
Liberal leader Angus Taylor sides with the far-left and condemns booing “welcome to countries” in an interview on the ABC.
He also refused to say whether he thought veterans should be welcomed to their own country at dawn services.
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— The Noticer (@NoticerNews) April 26, 2026
“Booing, whatever the cause, on Anzac Day ceremonies, is absolutely inappropriate and un-Australian,” Mr Taylor said.
“It simply shouldn’t happen.”
He then claimed to “understand” that Australians were frustrated about “welcome to country” ceremonies being overused, but refused to say whether he thought they belonged at Anzac Day ceremonies.
“I feel that at times, often actually, I think it is overused and as a result they are devalued,” he said.
“I would like to see them used less and therefore not devalued as I think they have been over time.”
When similar booing occurred last year, then-Liberal leader Peter Dutton also condemned the booing, but backflipped a week later in the face of overwhelming opinion polling and said “welcome to countries” should not be held on Anzac Day.
Mr Taylor’s comments come after influential right-wing figures said the problem could be solved by removing “welcome to countries” from Anzac Day.
“Acknowledge and pay respects to EMERGING leaders”?
Anzac Day is for paying respects to those who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice — NOT “emerging leaders.”
Since leftists began interfering with traditional Anzac Day ceremonies by hijacking them to insert the politically… pic.twitter.com/7oKgwjwFp7
— Craig Kelly:
Foundation for Economic Education (@craigkellyAFEE) April 25, 2026
It’s a relief these days when you go to a function and there is no Welcome to Country.
For 90 years it was never part of Anzac Day services.
Where did it come from?
While Aboriginal kids are being sexually abused by their drunk uncles in Western NSW, their lives destroyed, and no…— Real Mark Latham (@RealMarkLatham) April 25, 2026
“Since leftists began interfering with traditional Anzac Day ceremonies by hijacking them to insert the politically divisive ‘Welcome to Country’, Australians have stood in respectful silence,” Former Liberal MP Craig Kelly wrote on X.
That taboo has now been broken by widespread booing, which will now only grow louder and more widespread each year. 2026 should be the last year that the insulting and divisive ‘Welcome to Country’ is ever part of an Anzac Day service.”
Former federal Labor leader turned independent NSW MP Mark Latham also criticised the recent addition of “welcome to countries” to Anzac Day services.
“It’s a relief these days when you go to a function and there is no Welcome to Country. For 90 years it was never part of Anzac Day services. Where did it come from?” he asked.
“While Aboriginal kids are being sexually abused by their drunk uncles in Western NSW, their lives destroyed, and no one does anything about it, the wanky woke PC urban elites have tried to cleanse their consciences with the virtue signaling of Welcome to Country.
“Even at events like Anzac Day which have got nothing to do with land rights. The RSL is saying that some of those who booed this morning were veterans.
Who can blame them? They didn’t risk their lives to protect Leftwing political bullshit!”
Mr Minniecon responded to the booing by saying those responsible should “understand their place”, and repeated the anti-Australian slogan “always was and always will be aboriginal land”.
“We have experienced this type of racism for over 230-odd years. It really is a Whitefella problem, not a blackfella problem,” he said.
Mr Minniecon, who wore three medals he did not earn on the wrong side of his chest during his speech, says on his website that he “served for two years with the 51st Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment in the Citizens Military Forces, as transport driver”.
He also calls Australia Day “invasion day” on social media.
Header image: Left, Angus Taylor (Insiders). Right, Ray Minniecon being booed in Sydney (7News).
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