The right-wing group that led the campaign against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament have warned Anzac Day could be the next Aussie institution under threat.
Advance has told supporters that ‘elites and activists… want to make it a political football or kill it with silence’.
They say a string of ‘distasteful remarks’ by left-wing activists in recent years have flagged the start of a movement against the solemn day of remembrance.
‘It shouldn’t be controversial to be proud of Anzac Day,’ the group said in a statement.
The group who led the campaign against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament have issued a new warning to Aussies that Anzac Day could be under threat
Premier Peter Malinauskas’s government passed a bill in late 2023 the public holiday would instead be rebranded as ’25 April’ – a day ‘fixed as a public holiday’
The concern comes on the back of a trend away from Day, as well as recent headlines about the decline in Anzac Day patriotism.
In South , 2024 will mark the first year Anzac Day is not remembered and marketed as such.
Premier Peter Malinauskas’s government passed a bill in late 2023 the public holiday would instead be rebranded as ’25 April’ – a day ‘fixed as a public holiday’.
It’s a subtle change, but one that sparked alarm bells at Advance.
‘This Anzac Day, it’s time for to say thank you,’ it said. ‘The activists will keep pushing to degrade and destroy Anzac Day.’
In a 90-second video , the organisation is rallying to build community support for Anzac Day, sharing divisive remarks made by comedians and public figures over recent years who have sought to discredit soldiers.
In a 90-second video , the organisation is rallying to build community support for Anzac Day, sharing divisive remarks made by comedians and public figures over recent years who have sought to discredit soldiers
Advance fears Anzac Day could, if left unchecked, head down the same path as Day
Controversial comedian Catherine Deveny described the national holiday as ‘bogan Halloween’ and claimed war veterans were ‘ignorant and uneducated’ in widely panned social media posts in 2018.
‘ANZAC Day. It’s Bogan Halloween,’ she said. ‘ANZAC Day is f***ing disgusting and should have gone in the bin decades ago.’
Controversial comedian Catherine Deveny described the national holiday as ‘bogan Halloween ‘ and claimed war veterans were ‘ignorant and uneducated’ in widely panned social media posts in 2018
Advance slammed those remarks, telling followers this week: ‘They say it’s “bogan halloween” or a “Trojan Horse for racism, sexism, toxic masculinity, violence, homophobia and discrimination”. Rubbish.
‘These are men and women who put it all on the line in defence of this great nation. Many made the ultimate sacrifice and gave up their lives for .
‘Celebrating, remembering, and acknowledging them is what Anzac Day is about. And it needs to stay that way.’
A year earlier in 2017, writer Yassmin Abdel-Magied was heavily criticised after tweeting ‘Lest. We. Forget. (Manus, Nauru, Syria, Palestine)’ on April 25.
She quickly deleted the post and apologised, but many ns were left outraged that she had hijacked the national day of remembrance to make a political statement.
Yassmin Abdel-Magied was heavily criticised after tweeting ‘Lest. We. Forget. (Manus, Nauru, Syria, Palestine)’ on April 25
Yassmin Abdel-Magied has once again referenced a divisive tweet she made on Anzac Day five years ago that saw her flee
More recently, knowledge and understanding of the true meaning behind the day appears to have dwindled.
A rock concert was planned to go ahead in the Domain in Sydney – near the annual Diggers’ march – on April 25, until intervention from Premier Chris Minns.
RSL NSW President Mick Bainbridge said the proposal had raised concerns.
‘Anzac Day is not for sale,’ he said.
Advance fears Anzac Day could, if left unchecked, head down the same path as Day.
Each year, more ns opt against celebrating January 26, instead attending protests and promoting the alternate phrase, ‘invasion day’.
Woolworths was under sustained scrutiny and faced calls for boycotts from the Opposition Leader over a decision to no longer sell Day merchandise in stores.
The supermarked faced further pressure last week after it was revealed they would not stock limited edition Anzac biscuit tins this year.
The tins (pictured above), which carry alternative designs for different wars and conflicts, are a collectors’ item and part of the profit from their sale is donated to the RSL which helps veterans and their families (pictured below)
Woolworths has been criticised for not stocking special Anzac biscuit tins this year (stock image)
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said she had not ‘shopped at Woolworths ever since they announced they wouldn’t be supporting Day’.
‘Now that I have learned Woolworths has also refused to stock the RSL’s special Anzac biscuit tins, it reinforces my original decision,’ she posted on X.
‘If Woolworths isn’t interested in celebrating and doing everything it can to support our veterans through organisations like the RSL, then I’m proud to continue to boycott Woolworths and I hope others will join me in taking their business elsewhere ‘
A Woolworths spokesperson said they had raised almost $13 million for Anzac-associated appeals over the last ten years.
‘Our teams nationwide are pleased to again be proudly supporting this year’s ANZAC Appeal as we’re the only supermarket to stock the appeal’s badges with all funds for sales going to the RSL,’ the spokesperson added.
‘We sell Bakers Finest Anzac biscuits in our stores all year round, this product is endorsed by the RSL and generates revenue for the RSL to support veterans and their families.’