Townsville RSL Explains Decision to Omit Indigenous Acknowledgement at Dawn Service

The RSL branch president said the event honoured ‘all veterans who have served.’

Pastor Ray Minniecon addresses the crowd during the "Coloured Digger" ANZAC Day service at Redfern in Sydney, Australia on April 25, 2026. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

The Townsville RSL has reiterated the purpose of the Anzac Day dawn service amid criticism of a decision not to include the Indigenous Acknowledgement to Country at this year’s event.

The organisation’s position contrasts with other services in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth, which included Indigenous Acknowledgements that received disapproval from sections of the crowd.

“Service is about one thing, remembering those who have served Australia and paid the ultimate sacrifice. The Townsville Community’s support for our veterans at the mid morning march was also equally impressive and appreciated,” Townsville Retired Services League (RSL) President Colin Mosch told The Epoch Times on April 28.

“This year’s Dawn Service saw what we believe to be record attendance with the community coming together to honour ALL veterans who have served and to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of their duty,” she added.

Queensland LNP Premier David Crisafulli also attended and the decision to omit the Acknowledgement was backed by the local mayor.

Acknowledgements and Welcome to Country ceremonies have been popularised across public Australian events to recognise Indigenous ownership claims over Australia.

National Body to Review Welcome to Countries

In response, RSL National President Peter Tinley said the organisation is open to reviewing the issue.

He said Acknowledgements and Welcome to Countries had a place in Anzac Day commemorations, but the decision should remain with local branches.

“We will review policies. We provide guidance to our branches as to how they might attend to this,” he told ABC.

“What happens in far north Queensland or in far north Western Australia, they are localised choices,” he said.

Tensions at Services Nationwide

Indigenous speakers were booed and heckled at services in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney’s Martin Place where Pastor Ray Minniecon spoke.

Five people linked to the “March for Australia” group were removed from the Perth ceremony.

Across Western Australia, 15 move-on orders were issued, while several attendees were ejected from the 11,000-strong Sydney crowd. One person was charged with committing a nuisance.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor condemned the booing but said such ceremonies had were “overdone.”

Indigenous academic Marcia Langton accused “the forces of the right” of distorting the meaning of Welcome to Country ceremonies.

“I think there should be a greater police presence to protect those who observe Anzac Day,” Professor Langton told ABC Melbourne on April 27.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been a consistent critic of the prevalence of “Welcome to Country” events, saying they alienate “millions of Australians.”

She last year told the Australian Senate that the rituals were “never Aboriginal tradition and were only introduced in the 1970s.”