The ABC has been blasted for making its family friendly 9pm coverage of the iconic New Year’s Eve celebrations about ‘Invasion Day’.
The extravaganza is typically known as the ‘fireworks for children’, with younger audiences going to bed before the midnight display.
This year, after the characters from the popular cartoon Bluey were projected onto the pillars of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the 9pm show kicked off with a racially-charged monologue followed by a rap performance of a song called ‘Our People’ by Indigenous rap group ‘3 Percent’.
Confused parents took to social media complaining the lead in to the Calling Country fireworks display was not appropriate for children.
‘Why is everything so woke…just play some pop music and show the fireworks,’ one person wrote on X.
The 9pm fireworks are typically known as the children’s fireworks as many will be fast asleep by the time the main event kicks off at midnight
The 9pm show kicked off with a racially-charged monologue and rap performance of a song called ‘Our People’ by Indigenous rap group ‘3 Percent’
Another said: ‘Who at ABC thought it was a good idea to put an awful rap group on before the early kids fireworks and then spend a large chunk of the fireworks just showing projections on the bridge?’
‘Daughter was so disappointed. Should have kept with the Bluey,’ a third wrote.
‘Turned on the ABC for the first time this year (big mistake) to watch the early fireworks which had irrelevant music playing over – and drowning out – the footage,’ another observed.
‘Footage which focused too much on referendum-type messages on the pillars of Sydney Harbour Bridge’.
The 9pm Calling Country fireworks was presented by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists through music, dance and art, with a welcome to Country ceremony preceding the exhibit.
Parents complained the 9pm show was not appropriate for children
Frustrated Aussies took to social media to call out the ABC’s coverage
One social media user slammed the national broadcaster for focusing too much on ‘referendum-type messages’
A smoking ceremony also took place on boats Tribal Warrior, Mari Nawi and Wirawi from 7:30pm.
Impressive projections and lighting effects lit up the Sydney Harbour Bridge from 8:30pm and were a special tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Opera House.
This year, more than 8.5 tonnes of fireworks – across the 9pm and 12pm displays – are being launched with a 60 man crew and over 11km of cable needed for the event.
Some of Sydney’s most iconic vantage spots for the notorious New Years Eve firework display were already full on Sunday morning after crowds began gathering in the early hours.
More than one million people are expected to flood the Harbour City on Sunday, with viewing areas at Mrs Macquarie’s Point, the Royal Botanic Garden, the Domain and the Opera House full by 11.20am.
One commentator complained that the ABC coverage spent too much time focusing on projections on the Sydney Harbour Bridge
The 9pm fireworks display in Sydney is known as the Calling Country fireworks
The large numbers have prompted NSW Transport to implement additional train and bus services in and around the city, with 1000 trains expected to pass through the area into the night.
Thousands of people began gathering as early as 5am around the city in the hopes of getting a front-row-seat.
One group of men lined up for three days at the Domain, as the line began moving just before 8am to allow people into the Royal Botanic Gardens.
People also lined up since midnight at the Opera House, with footage showing the crowds running towards the fence at the harbour for a good view.
Meanwhile, others set up tents on Cockatoo Island and camped overnight.
Thousands of people started gathering as early as 5am on Sunday to snag a spot to watch the fireworks display in Sydney
Eleven of the 49 vantage points for the fireworks were sold out after they went through a ballot system to control numbers.
A change has also been made this year, with harbour venues being free to enter after the NSW government scrapped the ticketing system that had been in place.
As for the weather, the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting showers but it is only expected to be light and there isn’t any real heavy showers forecast to put a damper on things.
For the midnight fireworks display, the temperature was a balmy 21°C with some cloud cover.
READ MORE: Viewers rip into the ABC’s New Year’s Eve coverage for its ‘woke political activism’, ‘snoozefest’ performances and ‘horrible lip synching’: ‘Is this a Rock Eisteddfod? ‘
ABC’s performances have been slammed