Far-right group members blocked from Anzac Day services after booing incidents
Consensus Summary
On 2026-04-26, Anzac Day services across Australia were disrupted by booing during Welcome to Country ceremonies, linked to online campaigns by the far-right group Fight for Australia (formerly March for Australia). Police in Perth detained five individuals associated with the group, citing prior disruptions in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, while WA Police removed 15 people statewide to prevent further incidents. The group had encouraged followers to boo Indigenous acknowledgments and even requested RSL branches cancel them. Condemnation came from Indigenous leaders, RSL officials, and political figures, with calls for the booers to be banned from future services. While NSW Police arrested one man in Sydney for booing, no arrests were made in Perth despite the detentions. The incidents highlight tensions over the inclusion of Welcome to Country ceremonies and the role of far-right activism in public commemorations.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Police in Perth detained five people linked to March for Australia/Fight for Australia from attending the Anzac Day Dawn Service on 2026-04-26, citing potential disruption based on their groupâs prior actions in eastern states.
- Booing during Welcome to Country ceremonies occurred at Anzac Day services in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth on 2026-04-26.
- Fight for Australia (formerly March for Australia) encouraged followers to boo Welcome to Country ceremonies via online campaigns, including sharing a template to request RSL branches cancel them.
- WA Police removed 15 people (14 in Perth, 1 in regional WA) identified as members of 'issue motivated groups' from Anzac Day services on 2026-04-26, with no arrests made except for one arrest in Sydney.
- Indigenous academic Maria Langton (The Guardian) called the booers 'morons' and 'nasty louts,' advocating for them to be named, photographed, and banned from future Anzac Day services.
- RSL leaders in NSW and Victoria condemned the booing, with RSL Victoria president Mark Schroffel calling the booers 'weak-minded individuals who do not belong' at the service.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- March for Australia founder Bec Freedom (real name Bec Walker) posted on social media that 'one of our Perth team members' was detained and shared a video of the incident, claiming some in the group were not associated with March for Australia.
- A police officer in the Perth video stated: 'Due to your association with the March for Australia group, and their actions in the eastern states, you are being removed from the ceremony due to the belief you will interrupt it.'
- Freedom wrote: 'My personal apologies to those who were removed in Perth. But youâre all patriotic legends.'
- The Noticer, a far-right news outlet, shared the Perth police video on social media.
- A man in the video said: 'Weâre not interrupting anything, mate,' and a police officer replied: 'Your association to that group has unfortunately ruined your opportunity to remain at the ceremony today.'
- Freedom shared a video of a detained woman who claimed police did not ask for identification.
- WA Police statement: 'WA Police attended to protect the dignity of the commemorations, maintain public safety, and ensure the community could pay their respects without disruption.'
- NSW Police arrested a 24-year-old man for an alleged act of nuisance at the Sydney Cenotaph site, where booing occurred during the Indigenous acknowledgment of country.
- Victoria Police confirmed they were 'aware of two incidents of people booing' at the Shrine of Remembrance but could not identify anyone at the time, with no arrests made.
- Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor stated: 'I feel that at times [Welcome to Country] is overused and as a result they are devalued,' while calling booing 'absolutely inappropriate and un-Australian.'
- The Guardian article cited Indigenous academic Marcia Langton (not Maria Langton) calling for the booers to be banned from future services.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Newscomau refers to the Indigenous academic as Maria Langton, while Guardian identifies her as Marcia Langton.
- Newscomau states five people were detained in Perth, while Guardian states WA Police removed 15 people (14 in Perth, 1 in regional WA).
- Newscomau claims no arrests were made in Perth, while Guardian confirms one arrest was made in Sydney for booing but does not mention arrests in Perth.
- Newscomau includes a quote from Bec Freedom apologizing to those removed in Perth, while Guardian does not mention her direct comments on the incident.
Source Articles
Group behind Dawn Service booing identified
Footage has emerged of an encounter before a Dawn Service yesterday which will add fuel to the fire after the sombre ceremonies were marred by booing.
Police blocked members of anti-immigration group from Perth dawn service after Anzac Day booing in eastern states
Footage posted online shows police telling people they were being removed due to suspicion they would interrupt ceremony Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Western Australian police say they proactively blocked 15 members of âissue motivated groupsâ from attending Anzac Day commemorations, following disruptions that marred earlier ceremonies in the eastern states. One man was arrested at the Sydney dawn service at M