Natalie Barr loses it live on air as she says what many are thinking (2025)

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Sunrise host Nat Barr has slammed those who booed Welcome to Country at Melbourne's Anzac DayDawn Service.

Thousandsof people had turned out in the city's quiet, pre-dawn darkness on Friday to commemorate those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

But it was a group of between six and ten people whose heckles and boosduring Bunurong elder Mark Brown's Welcome to Country who cast a shadow over what was supposed to be a touching commemoration.

Sunrise's Nat Barr strongly condemned the behaviour, calling it 'disgusting' and saying she didn’t care if people were tired of 'Welcome to Country' ceremonies.

'Save your protests.

'We do not care what you are sick of. Today is not the day to share it.'

The small group's voices were picked up by microphones and loudspeakers during the Welcome to Country, clearly audible to the hushed crowd and broadcast media.

'It's our country!' one yelled.

'We don't have to be welcomed,' screamed another.

The boos and shouts lasted the entire three minutes of the address, with Mr Brown never seeming to waver.

Victorian Governor Margaret Gardner delivered the official Anzac Day address after, which acknowledged Aboriginal Australians - prompting further boos.

'How many more? This is s***,' one man reportedly shouted.

A woman then shouted 'always was, always will be' - before the crowd erupted with applause and helped drown out the disquiet.

Barr was not alone in her disgust. Politicians including Defence Minister Richard Marles, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Victorian Premier JacintaAllan unleashed on the small group.

RSL Victoria also said the heckling was completely out of keeping with the intention of the solemn event.

Jacob Hersant, a prominent neo-Nazi figure, was allegedly among those loudly booing.

'This is a day for the Anzacs, it's not for Aboriginals,' he told media after the service.

Hersant was spoken to by police and escorted from the service.

Anzac Day marks the moment thousands of Australian and New Zealand soldiers rowed towards the desolate shores of Gallipoli at half light during World War I.

Over 600 were killed on April 25, 1915, alone, with nearly 9,000 Australians and almost 3,000 New Zealanders killed during the bloody Gallipoli campaign.

A Welcome to Country is a traditional ceremony performed by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander elders to formally welcome visitors to their land and to give their blessing for events taking place on their traditional lands

MelbourneAnzac DaySunriseNatalie Barr

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