Thousands Join Anti-Immigration Rallies Across Australia On August 31, thousands of Australians participated in anti-immigration rallies held in Sydney, Melbourne, and several regional centres under the banner of March for Australia. The centre-left government strongly condemned the rallies, calling them divisive events linked to neo-Nazi groups.
According to the group’s website, the protests were organised to highlight grievances over mass immigration, which they claim has impacted wages, housing, traffic, water supply, and community life. Protesters argued that rapid migration was straining infrastructure, hospitals, and social cohesion. “Mass migration has torn at the bonds that held our communities together,” the group said, pledging to push demands politicians “never have the courage to do.”
Government officials, however, dismissed these claims, stressing the rallies were not about genuine community concerns but about spreading hate. Murray Watt, a senior Labor minister, told Sky News, “We don’t support rallies like this that are about spreading hate and dividing our community. They are organised and promoted by neo-Nazi groups.”
The rallies drew significant crowds. Reports estimated 5,000 to 8,000 participants in Sydney alone, many draped in Australian flags. Simultaneously, counter-protests organised by the Refugee Action Coalition condemned the far-right agenda, stating, “Our event shows the depth of disgust and anger about the far-right agenda of March for Australia.”
Authorities confirmed heavy police deployment, with hundreds of officers ensuring order across major cities. In Melbourne, riot police reportedly used pepper spray to control demonstrators, while in Queensland, populist MP Bob Katter attended the event, drawing attention after recent controversy regarding his comments on heritage and immigration.
Despite government opposition, March for Australia participants voiced frustration over rising costs, lack of housing, and pressure on hospitals. Protester Glenn Allchin said, “It’s about our country bursting at the seams and our government bringing more and more people in.”
Australia, where nearly half the population is either born overseas or has immigrant parents, faces an ongoing debate over balancing immigration with infrastructure and social stability. The latest rallies underscore the deep divide between calls for inclusivity and rising nationalist sentiments.
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