BREAKING NEWS Veteran's brutal words for Channel Nine reporter who called out 'disrespectful' boos during Welcome to Country at Melbourne Anzac Day service

A veteran and a Channel 9 reporter had a heated debate after a known neo-Nazi booed during a Welcome to Country at an Anzac Day dawn service.

Thousands of people turned out under the cloak of pre-dawn darkness in Melbourne on Friday to commemorate those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. 

But the air of reverence for the Anzacs was broken during Bunurong elder Mark Browns Welcome to Country, when loud heckles and boos threatened to drown him out.

The ugly scenes sparked condemnation from across the political spectrum with Defence Minister Richard Marles describing those responsible as idiots and Peter Dutton branding them mentally unwell.

But an apparent veteran has defended the disruptors in a heated exchange with Channel Nine reporter Mark Santomartino in the aftermath of the service.

The reason why were here, is because our friends fought and died for this country, blood sweat and tears - like their ancestors did, the veteran told the reporter.

He questioned whether it was the right time and place for a Welcome to Country.

I have a lot of veteran mates that havent come today solely because of the Welcome to Country. 

An apparent veteran (pictured, right) has defended the disruptors in a heated exchange with a Channel Nine reporter in the aftermath of the service

The air of reverence for the Anzacs was broken during Bunurong elder Mark Browns (pictured) Welcome to Country, when loud heckles and boos threatened to drown him out 

Because our friends died for this country, for this soil - and for them to be welcomed is a slap in the face.

The reporter said he wasnt suggesting there arent people that feel that way.

What Im saying to you is, to get up there and boo during a sacred ceremony is going to be seen by a lot of people as disrespectful, he said. 

The veteran hit back, stating: Thats where we as Australians and you as the media need to tell the right story.

Yes, it was disrespectful, but these are the reasons people are not agreeing with it because its not the right time or place for it. 

The veteran argued that neither the Welcome to Country or the booing was the right time for it.

I agree with the whole service but the Welcome to Country and the booing...Its not right to welcome veterans, World War Two... this is about all the people who have died for this country.

For them to welcome us to this country is disrespectful.