Thousands of Australians have turned out for anti-immigration rallies across the country that were condemned by the government as having far-right links and 'spreading hate'.
March for Australia rallies took place in Sydney, Melbourne, and other major cities, with several clashes occurring as marchers encountered counter-demonstrations.
A number of opposition politicians joined the marches, including One Nation senator Pauline Hanson and federal MP Bob Katter.
Australia has faced a recent rise in right-wing extremism, leading to laws making the Nazi salute punishable by a mandatory prison term earlier this year.
Up to 8,000 people assembled for the Sydney rally, according to ABC Australia. Police deployed hundreds of officers across the city but reported 'no significant incidents.'
In Melbourne, protesters clashed with attendees of a separate pro-Palestine rally. Among the speakers was Thomas Sewell, a known neo-Nazi addressing crowds from the steps of Parliament House.
In Adelaide, local media estimated that 15,000 people attended both a rally and counter-demonstration, with crowds generally behaving well.
One demonstrator was seen with a placard supporting Dezi Freeman, a conspiracy theorist accused of shooting two police officers earlier in the week. A large-scale manhunt is currently underway for Freeman.
The marches were promoted by various opposition politicians, neo-Nazi figures, and anti-lockdown campaigners prominent during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The March for Australia website claimed that 'Australia's unity and shared values have been eroded by policies and movements that divide us,' adding that 'mass migration has torn at the bonds that held our communities together.'
Concerns were also raised regarding cultural, economic, and environmental issues.
The government firmly opposed the rallies, asserting there is 'no place for any type of hate in Australia.' Home affairs minister Tony Burke stated, 'We stand with modern Australia against these rallies – nothing could be less Australian.'
Dr. Anne Aly, the minister for multicultural affairs, reiterated that the brand of far-right activism based in racism and ethnocentrism has no place in modern Australia.
