Why this photo of the Greens’ mouthpiece at an Anzac Day ceremony has sparked outrage

By NICHOLAS COMINO FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 08:13 BST, 28 April 2025 | Updated: 08:38 BST, 28 April 2025

Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather has caused a stir after he was photographed on his phone during an Anzac Day service in Brisbane.

The party’s high-profile housing spokesman was spotted on his phone in the middle of a speech being given by local Brisbane City Labor Councillor Lucy Collier. 

4BC Radio Radio Breakfast host Peter Fegan said it was ‘disrespectful’ for the Greens MP to be on his phone, saying he should be ‘ashamed of himself’.

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, the Greens member for Griffith denied he was using his phone in a disrespectful way.  

‘I was looking at my speaking notes as I was about to speak – as you can see in the picture I am about to step up to the lectern,’ he said. 

However, those who were in attendance at the event said they saw the 33-year-old MP use his phone multiple times during the ceremony. 

They also advised that the local RSL branch had printed out the resolution in large text, that was placed on the lectern for each speaker. 

‘Other politicians were reading and weren’t using their phones,’ noted someone at the event. 

Lucy Collier (speaking) while Mr Chandler-Mather was seen on his phone (white shirt)

School children were also among those who gave readings. 

In 2022, then-prime minister Scott Morrison faced similar criticism after he was seen texting in the middle of an Anzac Day dawn service during speeches. 

Mr Morrison at the time said he brought out the phone at the end of the service and that he was ‘checking the time of my next appointment’. 

Labor have since tried to capitalise on the incident, with Bulimba state MP Di Farmer taking aim at Mr Chandler-Mather. 

‘It’s very disappointing to hear of dignitaries being on their phones during important services,’ she wrote on Instagram. 

‘Yesterday was the day, of all days, when we needed to show the greatest respect.’ 

The post was met with a mixed response, with Mr Chandler-Mather directly responding to the criticism, accusing Ms Farmer of using Anzac Day for politics. 

‘I’ve shown you what I was reading which is the notes of the resolution I was designated to read out for the service,’ he wrote.

‘I wanted to make sure I got the words right.

‘We were at ANZAC Day celebrations all day together and not once did you raise this in person. In fact we were friendly and exchanged pleasantries.’

A number of comments were made in support of the Greens MP, saying Ms Farmer’s post was ‘exceptionally disappointing’. 

Another user said it was a ‘a tiny, petty thing to try and “get him” for… Who is it helping to create this storm in a teacup?’ 

Ms Farmer, a state Opposition frontbencher, also shared the image to her Facebook page, but the post has since been deleted.  

Daily Mail Australia contacted Ms Farmer and Ms Collier for comment. 

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Why this photo of the Greens’ mouthpiece at an Anzac Day ceremony has sparked outrage

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