The Director of the Australian War Memorial has hit back at various attacks on the ANZACs.

A staff member at Murdoch University is reportedly teaching his students that ANZACs who fought at Gallipoli were “killers”.

An investigation by The Australian found that lecturer Dean Aszkie­lowicz told students ANZAC Day nationalism is a diminishing “cliche”.

Director of the Australian War Memorial Mr Brendan Nelson tells Chris Smith the teaching is disrespectful.

“I regard what he said as absolutely disgraceful.

“What [the ANZACs] did, they did on behalf of their country.”

Meanwhile, an advocacy group has opposed the $498 million expansion of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

Heritage Guardians penned an open letter with 83 signatures against the proposed project, which includes prominent Australians and architects.

The letter suggests the money should be spent on “other needy cultural institutions or direct benefits to veterans and their families”.

Mr Nelson tells Chris the opposition is “complete and utter nonsense” and says the expansion is needed to pay tribute to the ANZACs and “make sure that their stories are told”.

“In my view, there are two groups of Australians that have worked hardest and given the most to create our sense of what it meant to be Australian.

“To me, it’s the farming community and it’s these men and women, two million of them, who wear and have worn the uniform of our three services.”

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