Scott Morrison supports vets in Anzac Day Sydney march push

The Prime Minister has thrown his support behind unhappy Diggers ahead of the Anzac Day march in Sydney.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has backed veterans calls to be allowed to march on Anzac Day.

Diggers have told The Daily Telegraph they are unhappy with the NSW RSL’s push to keep numbers of those marching through the centre of Sydney to just 500 drawn from a ballot.

Today Mr Morrison said he respected state government had the final decision but said: “I want Anzac Day on.”

His comments came after 5000 people marched past 33,000 spectators at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday night for the Mardi Gras parade.

“If people can party, and if people can protest, then we can remember as a nation and honour our veterans on Anzac Day,” Mr Morrison said. “And I would like to see that done as fully and as safety as possible.”

Vietnam veteran Henry Chisholm is calling for the Anzac Day march to be reinstated this year. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Mr Morrison said during the pandemic last year people had stood at the end of their driveways to remember at dawn in “a very poignant moment” of remembrance. “But this year I would like to see us return to normal as much as we possibly can … so we can gather together and honour our Anzacs,” he said.

The NSW RSL has argued the age of many veterans and lack of ticketed seating to control numbers means the safest option is to hold a ballot to be one of 500 marchers through the centre of Sydney.

Vietnam veteran Henry Chisholm said the decision “irks” him.

“I wouldn’t go in a ballot,” said Mr Chisholm, a former regimental sergeant major. “What is the point of going when none of my mates will be there.

“No one at the RSL seems strong enough to stand up for us. I will be 84 on Thursday and I am not afraid to go and march.”

People are seen celebrating Mardi Gras on Oxford Street. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

Bruce Relph, president of the Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans Association, said veteran support groups were lighting up on social media. “The boys are not happy,” he said.

“Anzac Day is not a party, this is a day of reflection and a chance to mourn and remember those who gave up their lives to win us our freedoms,” said Mr Relph, who served in Iraq.

“The RSL is not representing the feelings of veterans,” Mr Relph said. “They want us to register to go into town. I will be putting on my colours and going in to march and not entering a ballot to do it.”

Mr Relph said veterans were unhappy at being asked to enter a ballot, which could explain the lack of interest.

Jeff O’Brien, RSL NSW State Secretary, said: “There are still over 200 places to be allocated in the ballot to participate in the Sydney CBD March and I encourage veterans to visit the RSL NSW website to submit their expression of interest.”

Veterans say they are upset at having to enter a ballot to attend Anzac Day. Picture: AAP Image/Steven Saphore

Mr O’Brien said the RSL had the support of the NSW government to increase the number of marchers in the ballot to 1000 if there was sufficient demand. Other Anzac Day events would also be held around the state.

“RSL NSW has been working with the NSW Government since September last year to ensure that COVID-safe Anzac Day commemorations can proceed in communities across metropolitan Sydney and regional NSW — there is no limit on the amount.”

Minister for Veterans Geoff Lee said: “The smaller size of the RSL NSW Anzac Day march was a decision by RSL NSW. The NSW Government has offered to work with the RSL NSW to increase the numbers for the commemorations.

“NSW Health has written to the RSL offering to assist if the organisation would like a larger march,” he said.

Originally published as Scott Morrison supports vets in Anzac Day Sydney march push