Anti-immigration rallies took place across Australia over the weekend, drawing thousands of participants and sparking heated confrontations in Melbourne and Adelaide.
In Melbourne, tensions escalated when anti-immigration protesters clashed with attendees of a pro-Palestine rally in the CBD. Police deployed pepper spray on some individuals and formed blockades along Swanston Street near Flinders Street Station to prevent the groups from converging. Despite the heavy police presence, both groups maneuvered through side streets, leading to further confrontations. At one point, police horses and dozens of officers rushed to Bourke Street after a glass bottle was thrown, shattering near the pro-Palestine group.
Adelaide also witnessed unrest when a man identifying himself as a member of the National Socialist Network attempted to take the stage, calling for an end to immigration. His appearance triggered an altercation, forcing organizers to cut the rally short. Officials later reported that approximately 15,000 people attended both the rally and counter-rally in Adelaide, with the majority of participants described as “generally well-behaved.”
Although organizers of the “March for Australia” events stated the rallies were not racially motivated and were instead aimed at slowing overall migration, some signs and slogans suggested otherwise. In Sydney, a placard reading “white unity at every opportunity” was prominently displayed, raising concerns about extremist groups leveraging the movement.
Despite the clashes, most rallies across the nation’s capitals and regional centers remained largely peaceful. Counter-demonstrations also took place in several cities, emphasizing Australia’s ongoing debate over immigration and national identity.