Just nowSun 31 Aug 2025 at 6:22am
Opposing groups argue in Melbourne
Tensions flared as the afternoon wore on, with March for Australia protesters meeting resistance from Pro-Palestine protesters, who hold weekly rallies in the CBD.
Arguments broke out between groups on street corners and intersections, with police quick to separate groups.
(ABC News: Scott Jewell)
(ABC News: Scott Jewell)
Some protesters went the extra mile to dress up for the rally, bringing their own tinfoil hats.
(ABC News: Scott Jewell)
4m agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 6:18am
One woman arrested in Sydney
NSW police have put out a statement saying the day ended with “no significant incidents”.
However, police said one woman was arrested in Hyde Park in the city’s CBD.
She was arrested for allegedly breaching the peace.
NSW police said hundreds of officers were deployed across the city today in a combined effort involving:
Police Transport CommandTraffic and Highway Patrol CommandPublic Order and Riot SquadOperations Support GroupMounted UnitDog UnitPolAir
(ABC News: Reza Taherabadi)
14m agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 6:08am
The view from the afternoon in Melbourne’s CBD
The ABC’s Scott Jewell was on the ground in Melbourne’s CBD today, and captured some great shots of the protest.
Thousands of people rallied through the streets, carrying signs and chanting slogans.
(ABC News: Scott Jewell)
(ABC News: Scott Jewell)
(ABC News: Scott Jewell)
(ABC News: Scott Jewell)
20m agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 6:03am
Watch: Line of police officers separates opposing protesters in Hobart
20m agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 6:02am
Pauline Hanson addresses crowd in Canberra
Speaking in Canberra to March for Australia group, Senator Hanson said:
“I just want to say how proud I am to see so many Australians that are standing here today
“It takes me back to 30 years ago – 1996 – when I wore this flag.
“They tried to denigrate and have a go at me for being a proud Australian…to stand up for our Australian values and morals and who we are as a nation of people.”
A woman who attended Canberra’s march told the ABC:
“I’m in my 70s, and I cannot believe the way that laws are being passed in Australia .”
“I love Australia, and I just think Albanese has sold us out.
“We are no longer a free country, we’re becoming a socialist, communist country
“We’re pleading with the people of Australia to rise up…peacefully.”
32m agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 5:50am
In photos: Protesters rally in Canberra
(ABC News: Adam Shirley)
(ABC News: Adam Shirley)
(ABC News: Adam Shirley)
39m agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 5:43am
Chants of ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie’ at Geraldton rally
(ABC News: Natasha Harradine)
A rally in Geraldton, WA’s second-largest regional city, drew a crowd of around 100 people.
In addition to chants of “Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi”, speakers repeatedly referenced local police-officer-turned-sovereign-citizen Wayne Glew, who has had repeated run-ins with the City of Greater Geraldton and the WA government.
Other topics canvassed included the region’s ongoing lack of housing, with speakers highlighting how supply was failing to meet increasing demand.
— ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt
44m agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 5:38am
Pauline Hanson leads Canberra march
In Canberra, approximately 1,000 protesters gathered in Canberra to oppose what they describe as mass immigration, with many anti-government and anti-establishment chants coming from the crowd.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson attended with the March for Australia group, expressing her gratitude and support for them coming.
Senator Hanson then led the group over Commonwealth Avenue bridge to the Parliament House Lawns, where she and rally organisers addressed the attendees.
(ABC News: Adam Shirley)
A smaller counter-rally gathered on the opposite side of the road at Regatta Point – the starting point for the so-called March for Australia group.
While the mood was tense, with several crude verbal exchanges, no significant physical clashes occurred.
49m agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 5:33am
Counter protest in Perth
Several hundred people are counter-protesting the main march from another park as the main march files up to the city centre only metres away.
The two groups are hurling abuse and chants at each other but are being kept well apart by a heavy police presence.
The counter protestors are yelling, “Nazi scum off our streets” and the anti-immigration group is crying out “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Oi, oi, oi” and booing.
There are several thousand anti-immigration protesters — possibly 4,000 to 5,000 — but exact numbers are unclear.
(ABC News: Nicolas Perpitch)
(ABC News: Nicolas Perpitch)
59m agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 5:23am
One Nation MP speaks at Perth event
One Nation MP Rod Caddies addressed the crowd and said it was about supporting the Australian flag.
He said neo-Nazis were not welcome at the rally and encouraged the crowd to behave themselves.
(ABC News: Nicolas Perpitch)
But he wasn’t the only speaker.
Kat White, who told the crowd she was from the Wheatbelt region, said the protest was not against all immigration, but it should be cut back.
She said in her speech that the group was not against multiculturalism, but that was met with boos from the crowd.
1h agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 5:19amNeo-Nazi Thomas Sewell speaks at Melbourne rally
National Socialist Network member Thomas Sewell spoke on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne’s CBD at the March for Australia rally.
Thomas Sewell is a far-right activist (ABC News)
Mr Sewell has previously faced court on multiple charges, including after allegedly leading a white supremacist rally in 2023.
The speeches on the steps were disrupted at times by protesters being led out of the crowd by police.
Mr Sewell was the final speaker at the event, whose organisers have been linked to white nationalist ideas.
1h agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 5:09am
One Nation candidate Lee Hanson speaks in Hobart
(ABC News: Monty Jacka)
(ABC News: Monty Jacka)
(ABC News: Monty Jacka)
1h agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 5:05am
Perth protesters on why they’re demonstrating
One protestor, Tracy Godfrey, said she was there to support “Aussies”.
“We want Australia to be Australia.
“We’re not racist.
“We’re loving Australians.
“There’s diversity in the crowd.
“It’s against mass immigration.
“It’s against the government.”
Franklin Stephen said he had migrated to Australia from south India and was here to support his new country.
“People say like Australia is a racist country, it’s not like that at all, mate.
“I’m a different race, you know, like, this country has given me a lot.
“It’s just opposing the mass immigration.
“As long as everything is like, you know, done the right way, it’s good for the future and generations and everything.”
1h agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 5:01am
More than a thousand at Perth rally
More than a thousand people have turned out for an anti-immigration rally, with dozens holding blue or red ensign Australian flags.
The song “Great Southern land” played and there were signs with messages such as “I want my country back”.
Another sign read “Not far right. Right so far”, and people chanted “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Oi, oi, oi”.
(ABC News: Nicolas Perpitch)
(ABC News: Nicolas Perpitch)
1h agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 4:51am
Speaker references racist conspiracy theory in Sydney
1h agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 4:49am
Hundreds attend anti-immigration rally in Echuca, northern Victoria
About 400 people turned up to the rally in Echuca. (ABC News: Emile Pavlich)
It wasn’t just the capital cities getting involved in today’s anti-immigration rallies.
About 400 people attended the Kerrabee Sound Shell in Echuca, in northern Victoria, with some travelling from as far away as Ballarat to take part in the “March for Australia”.
Retired farmer and event organiser Colin Hosking said he had expected only 30 to 50 people to show up.
“This has been a pretty amazing turnout — it’s, again, the silent majority having something to say,” Mr Hosking said.
Echuca/Moama event organiser Colin Hosking with his brother Robert. (ABC News: Emile Pavlich)
While the federal government has condemned the rallies, and an ABC investigation identified links between the organisers and white nationalist views, Mr Hosking said he wasn’t concerned.
“We’re not neo-Nazis,” he said.
“That’s not our style. We’re just ordinary concerned Australians.”
James Jacques said the march was about showing pride in being Australian. (ABC News: Emile Pavlich)
Echuca local James Jacques said he decided to protest after becoming outraged about people burning the Australian flag.
Mr Jacques said he didn’t believe what was happening in the US regarding deportations and anti-immigration sentiment was relevant to today’s event.
“Each country to their own,” he said.
“From what I see in the media and news with them [the US], they’re just rounding people up and kicking them out.
“That’s not the way we want to be.
“We want to be welcoming to everyone, but we want everyone to … embrace our culture.”
— ABC Central Victoria
1h agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 4:48amAdelaide organisers end rally after altercation
The Adelaide rally has ended after an altercation between protesters.
Organisers have told the ABC the National Socialist Network had not been invited to speak at the event.
They attempted to stop the speech but were met with resistance.
Police who were monitoring the rally stepped in to break up the scuffle as some protestors chanted “let him speak!”
Several directed their anger at police and the mainstream media.
The rally did not resume after that point.
1h agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 4:43am
Small turnout in Launceston
Here’s a snap of protesters in Launceston, Tasmania:
(ABC News: Georgia Hogge)
1h agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 4:41am
Snippets from Bob Katter’s Townsville speech
Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has fronted the Townsville rally.
Mr Katter’s electorate takes in parts of the city, and his words were well received by constituents.
Bearing a Eureka flag — associated with a rebellion on the Victorian goldfields in the 1800s — Mr Katter loosely quotes American founding father Thomas Jefferson:
“When oppression becomes law, then resistance becomes duty.
“Every man dies, but not every man lives … that is Australia.”
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1h agoSun 31 Aug 2025 at 4:33am
📷 IN PICTURES: Thousands march in Sydney, counter-protesters host own rally
