Veterans remembered as boos and heckling condemned

But a lack of respect was shown at the Sydney, Melbourne and Perth dawn services with heckling and booing during acknowledgement of Country, prompting strong condemnation by politicians and the RSL.

Saturday marked the 111th anniversary of Australian and New Zealand forces landing at Gallipoli in 1915.

More than 8000 Australian soldiers died during the campaign, which failed to wrest control of the Dardanelles.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the dawn service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, acknowledging the debt owed to all servicemen and women who went to war.

"We give thanks to our veterans for all you have given," he said in a statement.

"We thank all Australians serving now and we thank your families who take on both the pride and the burden."

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor described Anzac Day as more than an expression of respect and gratitude.

"In remembering our fallen - in reaching into the past - we remind ourselves of who we are," he said in a statement.

In Canberra, 97-year-old Korean War veteran Ted Wilson shook hands with Governor-General Sam Mostyn.

"I'm here, and the majority of servicemen are here for one reason only, and that's to honour our friends who did not come back," he said.

In Sydney, booing was heard during the acknowledgement of Country.

After those disturbing the peace were quietened, a chorus of applause and cheering rang out to show support for Pastor and Uncle Ray Minniecon.

Police said a 24-year-old man had been arrested and charged with committing a nuisance at a war memorial by booing, and had been granted conditional bail to appear in court on June 3, while other people had been moved on from the service.

RSL NSW acting president, retired brigadier Vince Williams, said the disruption was "the most appalling act" he had ever seen at a dawn service.

"I apologise unreservedly to Uncle Ray ... his family has contributed enormously to our nation through from the First World War to the current day," Mr Williams told the ABC.

"I'm pretty convinced that none of the bunch of louts who were booing have ever done anything constructive for our nation."

Similar disruption occurred in Perth and in Melbourne where Bunurong and Gunditjmara man Uncle Mark Brown delivered his welcome.

Heckles from the crowd could be heard, followed by booing, but Uncle Mark continued.

Loud cheers from the crowd drowned out the disturbance as he concluded his address.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the behaviour.

"Politicising this sacred day is bastardry. I condemn it and so should every leader," she said.

Defence Minister Richard Marles called the booing "deeply disappointing" when Australians should be acknowledging the contributions Indigenous Australians made to the nation's defence.

"What we have seen with this booing is a disgrace, and it is deeply disrespectful to everyone actually who is participating in Anzac Day and particularly to that history," he told the ABC.

Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson said the heckling was completely inappropriate considering the service of Indigenous Australians who fought in uniform.

"Whatever your views about Welcome to Country, it is never appropriate to boo in an Anzac Day ceremony, which is our most sacred moment as a nation," he told reporters.

Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith attended an Anzac Day service on the Gold Coast while on bail.

He has been charged with five counts of war crime murder, alleged to have been committed during his service in Afghanistan as a special forces soldier between 2009 and 2012.

Mr Roberts-Smith denies the accusations.

"I've never thought about not coming, I was always going to be here," he said, briefly speaking to the media.

Anzac Day recognises the more than 1.5 million Australians who have served in wars and peace operations, including the 103,000 who have lost their lives.

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