A disco fundraiser on Anzac Day has caused a stir with the Greens backtracking after accusations of disrespect.
In a since-deleted social media event, Western Australia's Greens advertised a five-hour DJ event in Perth to help fundraise for candidate Sophie Greer and senator Jordon Steele-John.
The event reportedly offered tickets of between $30 and $1000 with an optional donation.
"Your moves matter - on the floor and at the polls. Want change? Tonight, let's dance for it," said the event description.
The event drew scorn from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, a former defence minister.
"It's completely inappropriate and I think it reflects the poor values the Greens stand for," he said.
"I just say to every young Australian who's proud of their grandfather who fought in the war, proud of a cousin who's serving in the Australian Defence Force now, understand the Greens have complete contempt for our defence force personnel."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese branded Anzac Day "a day of respect for the men and women who've made the ultimate sacrifice" when questioned over whether the event was appropriate.
"I think it's not a day for normal business as usual," he added.
Labor assistant minister Patrick Gorman called the event "unbelievable and unacceptable".
"The Greens should cancel this event and their Senators and candidates should apologise for ever having planned it in the first place," the West Australian MP wrote on social media.
Australia's freedoms weren't secured by luck but by the sacrifice of generations of service people and it was "entirely inappropriate that politics is being conflated with Anzac Day", RSL WA state president Duncan Anderson said.
"I would have thought out of all the other days, there could have been another one, let's not forget the reason there is a public holiday is so people have time to pause and reflect and consider how lucky we are," he told Perth radio 6PR.
"As a member of the community and a veteran, I'm pretty at a loss."
The WA Greens said the April 25 event had been rescheduled.
"Sophie Greer will attend an Anzac Day service on that day, and she was always intending to do," a spokesperson said.
