Neo-Nazi leads protest at Melbourne Anzac Day dawn service
A neo-Nazi stunt led by serial pest Jacob Hersant shattered Melbourne’s Anzac dawn service, drawing national outrage after boos disrupted an Indigenous welcome on a day meant to honour unity and sacrifice.
White supremacist Jacob Hersant has been released on summons after leading a “hateful” protest at Melbourne’s Anzac Day dawn service, sparking fury from political leaders across the nation.
Mr Hersant, a self-declared neo-Nazi and the public face of Australia’s extremist far-right fringe, led a small group of men in a stunt that saw at least one individual boo during the Welcome to Country at the city’s Shrine of Remembrance on Friday morning.
The outburst took place as thousands gathered in the pre-dawn darkness to honour generations of Australian service members who fought and died in war.
Boos and jeers broke the silence as Bunurong elder Uncle Mark Brown delivered a Welcome to Country on his father’s land.
Each time a speaker thanked the traditional owners of the land, the small group of men yelled from the middle of the crowd.
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton both strongly condemned the act, with the Prime Minister calling for those responsible to face “the full force of the law”.
“There is no place in Australia for what occurred in Melbourne this morning,” Mr Albanese said in a statement.
“A neo-Nazi disrupting Anzac Day is abhorrent, un-Australian and disgraceful. The people responsible must face the full force of the law.”
There was also a small interruption at the Anzac service in Canberra, which Mr Albanese attended, where one individual yelled out “free Palestine”.
Another member in the crowd was heard yelling back “kick a landmine”.
The Opposition Leader described the group of neo-Nazis as “a stain on our national fabric” and said there should be zero tolerance for their behaviour.
Mr Dutton said the Welcome to Country was an “important part of our official ceremonies” and should be “respected”.
“We have a proud Indigenous heritage in this country and we should be proud to celebrate it as part of today, and we should always remember too and remind ourselves as we did at the Opera House last night that Indigenous Australians played a very significant part and still do today in the ranks of the Australian Defence Force,” Mr Dutton said following an Anzac Day memorial service in Samford, in his own electorate of Dickson.
Police said they expect to charge a 26-year-old man with “offensive behaviour”, but did not confirm his identity, although footage obtained by Sky News shows officers speaking with Mr Hersant.
“The male has been directed to leave the Shrine of Remembrance,” police said in a statement.
Mr Dutton commended police for their efforts in trying to “quash any presence of neo-Nazis in our country”.
“We should never take for granted what we have in this country and the work of the Diggers fighting the Nazis and fighting tyranny and autocrats, that’s what’s kept us safe,” he said.
“To see any instance whatsoever of neo-Nazism in our country is just a disgrace and I commend the police for the work that they’re doing, particularly in New South Wales and Victoria, but across the country to quash any presence of neo-Nazis in our country.
“They have no place at all and they’re a stain on our national fabric and they are not part of the Australian culture, and nothing should overshadow what it is to be here to commemorate and to celebrate the contribution over successive generations of those that have served in uniform.
“Our greatest Australians are the Anzacs and I absolutely condemn any action from neo-Nazis or those people who would seek to disrupt Anzac Day services.
“Their actions should be condemned and I’m sure that every right-thinking Australian would be disgusted and appalled by the behaviour and it’s not something that we tolerate in our country at all.”
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan also condemned the act, describing it as “appalling”.
“A neo-Nazi disrupting this day is appalling, it has no place here,” Ms Allan said.
“Anzac Day honours the values our Anzacs lived and died for: courage, loyalty, mateship and sacrifice. Those who booed in the dark showed they have none of these qualities.
“To pierce the sombre silence of the dawn service is more than disrespect – it dishonours all who have served, fought and fallen.
“And to boo the Aboriginal servicemen and women who served our nation shows ignorance, hatred and a complete lack of respect – for them, and for everything Anzac Day stands for.”
Mr Hersant is known for his leadership roles in extremist groups such as the National Socialist Network and the European Australian Movement. In October 2023, he became the first individual in Victoria to be convicted under new legislation banning the public performance of Nazi salutes.
He executed the salute and praised Adolf Hitler outside the County Court in Melbourne, just six days after the law’s enactment.
After the court found him guilty, he was sentenced to one month in jail for the offence in November 2024.
Defence Minister Richard Marles also condemned the act as “appalling”, adding that he felt outraged after witnessing the “deplorable” protest unfold.
“It is appalling. And obviously I was here this morning and witnessed it, and I absolutely feel that sense of outrage,” Mr Marles told Channel 9’s Today.
“And I know that people in the crowd did today as well. It is a small number of people. And you know what? We should not be giving them airtime.”
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