Greens are blasted over ‘completely inappropriate’ decision on Anzac Day

By NICK WILSON FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 03:28 BST, 15 April 2025 | Updated: 04:18 BST, 15 April 2025

A decision by the Greens to host a six-hour rave and fundraiser on Anzac Day has been slammed as ‘completely inappropriate’ for a reflective memorial day. 

Far from pausing their campaigning that day along with other parties, the Greens will host a ticketed ‘Greens Party Party’ at Old Habits bar and tattoo parlour in West Perth on April 25. 

The event is planned to raise funds for the election campaign of Perth candidate Sophie Greer and the re-election of WA Senator Jordon Steele-John. 

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton who, along with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, plans to spend Anzac Day paying his respects at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, said the ‘inappropriate’ event should be condemned. 

‘To every young Australian who’s proud of their grandfather who fought in the war, proud of a cousin who is serving in the Australian Defence Force now – understand the Greens have complete contempt for our Defence Force personnel,’ Mr Dutton said. 

‘The Greens, of course, would be the partners in government with Anthony Albanese and Mr Albanese should condemn these actions.’

The event will run from 6pm to 11.30pm and cost $30 to attend. 

‘The federal election is right around the corner. Join us for a night when the dancefloor becomes the platform for radical change. Your moves matter – on the floor and at the polls,’ the event information shared. 

The dance party event is reminiscent of Greens leader Adam Bandt’s performance alongside Abbie Chatfield at a Melbourne music venue last month (pictured)

The Greens will host a ticketed ‘Greens Party Party’ at a tattoo parlour in West Perth on April 25

It is an unwritten rule that candidates and parties pause or at least tone down their campaigns on Anzac Day as dawn service memorials and parades of veterans are held across the country. 

The rave is reminiscent of Greens leader Adam Bandt’s DJ performance at a Melbourne music venue alongside FBoy Island star Abbie Chatfield last month. 

Duncan Anderson, the Deputy National President and director of RSL Australia, said the rave was ‘entirely unacceptable’. 

‘The decision to do a fundraiser by any political party is one I find perplexing at best,’ he told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday. 

‘The irony of the whole situation is that the whole reason our political system enjoys such freedoms – such as freedom of speech and free discourse – is because hundreds of thousands of men and women have sacrificed for Australia.’

Mr Anderson serves in the army reserves and completed two military deployments as an officer to Iraq and Afghanistan.

‘It is the perspective of the WA RSL that if we were to receive a donation from any political party holding a fundraiser on Anzac Day it wouldn’t be accepted,’ he said. 

‘This is because Anzac Day is above any one person or organisation.’

The Greens will host a dance party event to support the election of Greens candidate for Perth Sophie Greer (left) and the re-election of WA Senator Jordon Steele-John (right)

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton who, along with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, plans to spend the day paying his respects at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, slammed the event as ‘completely inappropriate’ (pictured, an Anzac Day parade in 2023)

Perth candidate Sophie Greer hopes to oust Labor member Patrick Gorman who has held the seat since a 2018 by-election. 

Mr Gorman retained his seat at the 2022 federal election with a 5.7 swing in his favour and has since become the assistant minister to the Prime Minister and public service.

‘I’ve seen some silly things in my time in politics, but this one is one of the worst judgments I have seen in a very long time,’ Labor member for Perth Patrick Gorman told The West Australian. 

‘They consult a lot in the Greens party, and how they all got together and thought it was appropriate to be having a campaign fundraiser on Anzac Day is just beyond me.’

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Greer, Mr Steele-John and the Greens. 

Anthony AlbanesePeter Dutton

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Greens are blasted over ‘completely inappropriate’ decision on Anzac Day

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