That the Gallipoli “landing” was an invasion of a sovereign country which was no threat to the population of Australia simply does not register in any of the media coverage.

That ten times as many Turks were killed defending their country as Australians invading it is also completely absent.

Everything about the official commemoration of Anzac Day reeks of the colonial superiority which dominated the thinking of Australian and British military authorities just over a century ago.

Imagine if Japan had actually invaded Australia in 1942 (it never planned to) but was beaten back after a bloody 10-month campaign on the shores of North Queensland, leaving tens of thousands of Australians dead.

Now imagine 74 years later – thousands of Japanese turning up in Cairns. The old rising sun flag is hoisted and Japanese politicians and generals make speeches commemorating the loss of their soldiers.

Back home, the Japanese PM assures the country’s youth that the military’s endeavour had been a noble one aimed at securing Japan’s freedoms and way of life.

The official entourage is accompanied by thousands of Japanese backpackers who proudly fly the rising sun flag, get drunk and sing nationalist songs, leaving behind them a rubbish-strewn cesspit for locals to clean up on their departure.

Now imagine the reaction of the Australian high and mighty who shed crocodile tears about the fallen at Gallipoli.