Key Takeaways
- The Townsville RSL sub‑branch chose not to include a Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country in its 2025 Anzac Day Dawn Service, reversing the practice used in 2023 and 2024.
- Premier David Crisafulli attended the ceremony, drawing criticism from Indigenous leaders who viewed the omission as disrespectful to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen.
- Across Australia, several dawn services in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth experienced booing and heckling during Welcome to Country ceremonies, highlighting a growing tension over the practice.
- Queensland Police Minister Dan Purdie defended the premier’s attendance, stating that events are organised locally by RSLs and schools, not the state government.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss condemned the premier’s presence without acknowledgement, noting the historic contributions of Indigenous soldiers and nearby Palm Island’s commemorative ceremony.
- Opposition Leader Steven Miles emphasized that Anzac Day should honour all who served, including First Nations Australians, and that program decisions remain with local RSLs.
- Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor labelled the booing “inappropriate and un‑Australian,” while arguing that Welcome to Country ceremonies are sometimes overused and risk being devalued.
- Premier Crisafulli’s office did not comment on the controversy, leaving the RSL’s decision unexplained at the state level.
- The incident underscores an ongoing national debate about how to balance traditional military remembrance with recognition of Indigenous custodianship and service.
Overview of the Townsville Dawn Service 2025
On Anzac Day 2025, Premier David Crisafulli joined Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto at the dawn service held in Anzac Memorial Park. The ceremony was organised by the Townsville RSL sub‑branch, with President Colin Mosch confirming that the branch had decided not to include a Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgement of Country in the program. The event attracted local residents, veterans, and members of the Australian Defence Force, reflecting Townsville’s status as Australia’s largest garrison city and its proud military heritage. The service proceeded with the traditional elements of a dawn vigil—last post, minute’s silence, and reveille—without any formal reference to the traditional owners of the land, the Bindal and Wulgurukaba peoples.
Decision to Omit Welcome/Acknowledgement of Country
Colin Mosch explained the RSL’s rationale, stating that “the Anzac Day Dawn Service is about one thing, remembering those who have served and have paid the ultimate sacrifice.” He argued that adding an Acknowledgement of Country would divert focus from the core purpose of the service. This stance marked a departure from the previous two years, when the Townsville RSL sub‑branch had incorporated an Acknowledgement of Country recognising the Bindal and Wulgurukaba peoples as the traditional custodians of the area. The 2025 decision therefore represented a deliberate policy shift within the local RSL leadership.
Historical Practice in Townsville
In both 2023 and 2024, the Townsville RSL sub‑branch had included an Acknowledgement of Country as part of its dawn service protocol, aligning with a broader trend across many Australian municipalities to recognise Indigenous heritage during national commemorations. The branch noted that it retained responsibility for coordinating the ceremonial protocol, while the Townsville City Council provided logistical support. The reversal in 2025 thus contrasted with the recent inclusive approach and sparked discussion about the consistency of such recognitions within the community.
Broader National Context of Booing and Heckling
Outside Queensland, several dawn services in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth experienced audible booing and heckling during Welcome to Country segments. Reports indicated that some attendees expressed frustration over what they perceived as the frequent or ceremonial use of Indigenous acknowledgements, suggesting a growing divide over the practice. These incidents contributed to a national conversation about the appropriate place of Welcome to Country ceremonies within Anzac Day observances, with critics arguing that they sometimes felt tokenistic or overly politicised.
Police Minister Dan Purdie’s Comments
Queensland Police Minister Dan Purdie, who attended six Anzac Day events across the state, defended Premier Crisafulli’s participation in the Townsville service. He emphasised that the organisation of dawn services rests with local RSL sub‑branches and schools, not the state government. Purdie said, “We don’t organise these events, we say yes to as many as we possibly can and we attend,” underscoring the principle that attendance by officials does not imply endorsement of every element of a locally determined program.
Indigenous Commissioner Katie Kiss’s Criticism
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss condemned the premier’s attendance at a service lacking any Indigenous acknowledgement, describing it as “very disrespectful.” She highlighted the significant contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen in World War I and noted that Palm Island—a major reserve established under Queensland’s Protection Act—had held its own commemorative ceremony the previous day. Kiss’s remarks underscored the view that omission of recognition disregards the historic service and ongoing presence of Indigenous Australians in the nation’s military narrative.
Opposition Leader Steven Miles’s Response
Opposition Leader Steven Miles acknowledged that decisions about Anzac Day programming are made at the local RSL level but stressed that the day should honour “all who served, including First Nations Australians.” He urged communities to consider inclusive practices that recognise the diverse makeup of Australia’s defence forces. Miles’s statement reflected a broader political call for balancing respect for military tradition with recognition of Indigenous history and service.
Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor’s View on Welcome to Country
Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor characterised the booing heard at some dawn services as “inappropriate and un‑Australian.” He conceded that public frustration sometimes stems from a perception that Welcome to Country ceremonies are overused, which may dilute their significance. Taylor advocated for a more measured use of the practice, suggesting that reducing frequency could preserve its meaning and prevent it from becoming a routine or contested element of national commemorations.
Premier’s Office Non‑Response
Requests for comment from Premier David Crisafulli’s office regarding the Townsville RSL’s decision and the ensuing criticism went unanswered. The lack of a formal response left the premier’s position on the matter unclear and contributed to speculation about whether the attendance represented endorsement of the RSL’s protocol or merely a gesture of support for veterans’ commemorations more generally.
Concluding Remarks
The 2025 Townsville Anzac Day Dawn Service has become a focal point in a nationwide debate over how to reconcile traditional military remembrance with contemporary calls for Indigenous recognition. While the local RSL maintained that the service’s singular purpose is to honour fallen soldiers, Indigenous leaders, opposition politicians, and community members argued that omitting Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country neglects an integral part of Australia’s military heritage. The incident reflects broader tensions seen in other states, where both support for and resistance to Indigenous acknowledgements coexist. Moving forward, the dialogue suggests that communities may need to navigate these differing viewpoints to create commemorative practices that honour all who have served while respecting the land’s original custodians.