In a significant display of dissent, thousands of Australians gathered for anti-immigration rallies nationwide, events that have drawn sharp criticism from the government for their associations with far-right ideologies and for allegedly promoting hate.
March for Australia rallies unfolded across major cities, including Sydney and Melbourne, where tensions escalated as participants encountered counter demonstrations, leading to several clashes.
Several opposition politicians participated in the marches, among them One Nation senator Pauline Hanson and federal MP Bob Katter.
In recent months, Australia has witnessed an alarming increase in right-wing extremism, prompting lawmakers to take decisive action by making the Nazi salute punishable by a mandatory prison sentence earlier this year.
According to ABC Australia, as many as 8,000 individuals gathered for the rally in Sydney. Authorities reported that a substantial number of officers were stationed throughout the city, yet noted the absence of any significant incidents.
In Melbourne, tensions escalated as protesters confronted participants of a distinct pro-Palestine rally. Thomas Sewell, a prominent figure associated with neo-Nazi ideology, was among the speakers who addressed crowds from the steps of Parliament House.
In Adelaide, police reported an estimated attendance of 15,000 individuals at both a rally and a counter-demonstration, noting that the crowds were “generally well-behaved,” as per local media sources.
A demonstrator was observed holding a placard in support of Dezi Freeman, a conspiracy theorist and self-identified “sovereign citizen,” who stands accused of fatally shooting two police officers on his property earlier this week. A significant search has been launched for 56-year-old Freeman.
The marches garnered support from various opposition politicians, neo-Nazi figures, and certain anti-lockdown campaigners who gained visibility during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The March for Australia website asserts that “Australia’s unity and shared values have been eroded by policies and movements that divide us,” further stating that “mass migration has torn at the bonds that held our communities together.”
The group has expressed its concerns regarding various pressing issues, including culture, wages, traffic, housing, water supply, environmental degradation, infrastructure, healthcare facilities, crime rates, and the erosion of community ties.
Earlier this week, the government expressed its opposition to the rallies, cautioning that “there is no place for any type of hate in Australia.”
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated, “There is no place in our country for individuals who aim to divide and undermine our social cohesion.”
“We express our solidarity with contemporary Australia in opposition to these rallies – there is nothing more un-Australian.”
Dr. Anne Aly, the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, emphasised the importance of unity among Australians, regardless of their birthplace. She condemned those who attempt to sow division and intimidate migrant communities. We refuse to be cowed.
“The presence of far-right activism rooted in racism and ethnocentrism is increasingly being challenged as incompatible with the values of contemporary Australia.”
