Today’s protest at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance was disgraceful and those who participated in it are to be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
They should be ashamed of themselves.
The Shrine of Remembrance is one of our country’s most significant memorials and holy places.
That the Shrine is sacred was made clear to all Australians by Sir John Monash, who ensured that the inscription on the west wall declares that it is “HOLY GROUND”.
It is a place of solemnity and quiet reflection. To use it as a protest site violates this sanctity and denigrates and disrespects the memory of those who have served and sacrificed so much for our nation.
There can be no justification for this outrage. Those who organised and attended the protest at the Shrine of Remembrance should acknowledge the hurt that their actions have caused and apologise to all Australians.
I hope we never live to see a repeat of it.
