Immigration Antagonism Erupts in Melbourne, Australia: Massive Demonstrations Draw Attention to Racism Debate | Anti-Immigrant Protests in Melbourne

Police in Melbourne have used pepper spray and baton rounds to manage “violent clashes” between immigration protesters and counter-demonstrators. This incident occurred during widespread rallies across Australia, including Sydney, Perth, Canberra, and Brisbane, where protesters demanded an end to mass immigration. The Australian government has denounced these “March for Australia” rallies as racist, with Minister Anne Aly suggesting they were organized by Nazis. Approximately 5,000 individuals participated in Melbourne, some wearing the Australian flag, leading to multiple violent confrontations and at least six arrests. “March for Australia” accuses mass migration of fracturing community bonds and seeks to end immigration, a stance criticized as a rise in right-wing extremism. Minister Aly denies concerns about immigration from white Western countries, labeling the rallies anti-immigration and organized by Nazis. Thomas Sewell, a known neo-Nazi, was a speaker and involved in an attack on an Indigenous protest camp, Camp Sovereignty, leading to injuries. Sydney saw between 5,000 and 8,000 at an anti-immigration protest, with counter-protesters emphasizing Australia’s immigrant heritage. Senator Pauline Hanson and Bob Katter of the populist party supported these rallies, with Katter threatening violence towards a reporter who mentioned his heritage. The Greens’ Mehreen Faruqi calls these rallies acts of hate and criticizes the government for not addressing migrant and refugee issues more constructively. Australia’s spy agency warns of the growing far-right scene, leading to laws against nazi symbols and displays. The 2019 Christchurch mosque attack, which killed 51 Muslim worshippers, illustrates concerns over white supremacist violence.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/1/clashes-in-australias-melbourne-as-thousands-rally-against-immigration?traffic_source=rss