Australia’s veterans’ affairs minister has defended a ban on Turkish nationals attending the Anzac Day dawn service on the Gallipoli peninsula.

Darren Chester said Turkey was closely monitoring the safety of Australians at commemorative events amid heightened security fears ahead of Anzac Day on Thursday.

“It’s actually not unprecedented for the Turkish authorities to recommend that Turkish nationals not attend the service, it’s happened in previous years,” he told ABC’s News Breakfast on Wednesday.

“I’m sure there’ll be a very solemn, very respectful commemorative event on the peninsula tomorrow, which will be well attended by visitors from mainly Australia and New Zealand.”

The Turkish government has banned its citizens, including bus drivers and tour guides, from the peninsula for Thursday’s service, The Australian reported on Wednesday.

“Nothing is left to chance and keeping every Turkish person out eliminates a lot of risk,” an unidentified official told The Australian.

The newspaper said only registered foreigners – about 700 Australians and 500 New Zealanders – will be given access to the peninsula after the Turkish military imposed the lockdown after a huge security sweep. However, Turkish dignitaries who are part of the service will be allowed to attend.

Mr Chester said Australia had a great relationship with Turkey, despite a diplomatic boilover sparked by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s incendiary comments last month.

The Turkish leader threatened to send Australians visiting the Gallipoli Peninsula home in coffins “like their forefathers” if any expressed anti-Muslim sentiment following the terrorist attacks at mosques in New Zealand.

Mr Chester said he didn’t want to revisit the spat, other than to note the Christchurch massacres had nothing to do with the 1915 Gallipoli campaign.

“We have enjoyed a great working relationship with local Turkish authorities now for many years,” Mr Chester said.

“We greatly respect the way they let us visit their country, put on a commemorative activity, which is very moving, and a lot of Australians regard it as somewhat of a pilgrimage to go to Anzac Cove on Anzac Day.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison last month welcomed Mr Erdogan’s back down on his reported comments. That followed high-level crisis meetings, and the Turkish ambassador to Australia being called in.

-with AAP