RSL Australia has announced it will review its guidelines on “welcome to countries” after fed-up Aussies booed the humiliation ritual during Anzac Day dawn services in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide.
The booing led to a 24-year-old man being charged in Sydney, and sparked condemnation from woke commentators and politicians, including Liberal leader Angus Taylor, but was widely supported by everyday Australians on social media, and defended as freedom of expression by a top military official.
Those booed included professional aboriginal Mark Brown in Melbourne, who previously celebrated the death of Charlie Kirk, and activist Ray Minniecon in Sydney, who responded by reciting an anti-Australian slogan and said White Australians should “understand their place”.
Fed-up Aussies boo loudly during a “welcome to country” at the Anzac Day Dawn Service in Sydney.
Follow: @NoticerNews pic.twitter.com/xfQ55ywjS7
— The Noticer (@NoticerNews) April 24, 2026
RSL Australia national president Peter Tinley said on Monday that while he personally supported including “welcome to countries” in dawn services, he thought individual branches should be able to decide for themselves.
“What happens in far north Queensland or in far north Western Australia, they are localised choices,” he told ABC News.
“They have to have a nose to the atmosphere that they’re working in, but we will show leadership. We will review policies. We provide guidance to our branches as to how they might attend to this.
“I think there’s a real opportunity for the RSL to lead, and provide a better expression that is more tailored and appropriate for the commemorative day that it is.
Mr Tinley also claimed that those opposed to “welcome to countries” on Anzac Day were a minority, even though the largest-ever opinion poll on the issue, conducted after similar booing last year, found seven in 10 Australians want to see a complete stop to the ceremonies at all public events.
Four minutes of prolonged booing at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance. pic.twitter.com/pB6iPhZBmJ
— The Noticer (@NoticerNews) April 24, 2026
The RSL in Townsville, a major Australian Defence Force hub, opted not to include a “welcome to country” at its dawn service, which was attended by Premier David Crisafulli, and no booing was heard.
President of the Townsville RSL sub-branch Colin Mosch said the decision to strip back the service was made because “the Anzac Day Dawn Service is about one thing, remembering those who have served and have paid the ultimate sacrifice”.
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce also told Sky News on Monday that the ceremonies has no place on Anzac Day.
“I don’t think I agree with ‘welcome to country’ at the dawn service,” he said.
“I think people who have served our nation, who signed on the dotted line, they don’t need to be welcomed to their country.
“They’ve put their lives on the line for our country, they’d been willing to die for our country, and when you say ‘welcome to’ it suggests that they’re not part of it.”
Header image: A man booing at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance (ABC News).
