Discussion surrounding the official opening of the redeveloped Anzac Hall at the Australian War Memorial has continued after questions were raised about the ceremony’s program, particularly the absence of Australia’s national anthem during the official proceedings.
The ceremony marked the completion of one of the largest upgrades in the history of the Australian War Memorial and was attended by senior government representatives, military personnel, veterans and invited guests. While the redevelopment itself has generally been welcomed, elements of the opening program have become the focus of political debate in the days following the event.
Attention initially centred on the ceremony after several attendees noted that Advance Australia Fair was not performed during the official opening. Instead, the program included a Welcome to Country, speeches, musical performances, curator presentations and concluded with the ceremonial lowering of the Australian flag accompanied by the military bugle call “Retreat”. The Australian War Memorial later confirmed that the omission of the national anthem was intentional rather than an oversight.
According to the Memorial, the Australian National Anthem is already performed every evening during its longstanding Last Post Ceremony. Organisers said the official opening was designed as a separate commemorative event with its own program reflecting the redevelopment of Anzac Hall and the Atrium rather than duplicating the nightly ceremony.
The issue attracted political attention after One Nation Senator Tyron Whitten formally raised the matter in the Senate. Party representatives argued that national commemorations honouring Australian service personnel should prominently feature national symbols, including the anthem, and questioned whether the balance of the ceremony appropriately reflected the occasion. Those comments echoed earlier criticism from other politicians who also expressed disappointment that the anthem was not included.
Other political figures offered similar concerns while placing emphasis on the symbolic importance of the Australian War Memorial. They argued that many attendees had expected the national anthem to follow the Welcome to Country and believed it would have been appropriate given the presence of veterans, serving Defence personnel and senior national leaders.
Supporters of the existing program note that Welcome to Country ceremonies have become a common feature of many official Australian events and are intended to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land where ceremonies take place. They argue that including such acknowledgements does not necessarily diminish the significance of other national traditions and that organisers have discretion in designing official programs.
The differing responses highlight a broader national conversation that has continued in recent years about ceremonial traditions at public events. Questions surrounding the role of Welcome to Country, acknowledgements of Traditional Custodians, the Australian flag and the national anthem have generated discussion across political parties and within the wider community, particularly during nationally significant commemorations.
Despite the political debate, the redevelopment itself remains a major national infrastructure project. The expanded Anzac Hall and Atrium provide additional exhibition space and are intended to improve the Memorial’s ability to preserve and present Australia’s military history while recognising the service of successive generations of Australian Defence Force personnel.
As discussion continues, the ceremony has become an example of how commemorative events can generate broader debate about national identity, public symbolism and official protocol. While opinions differ over how these ceremonies should be structured, the event has prompted renewed public discussion about the role of Australia’s national symbols alongside other ceremonial traditions at major public occasions.
