• Thousands participated in anti-immigration rallies across major Australian cities.
• The government condemned the protests as promoting hate and linked to neo-Nazi groups.
• Counter-protests were organized by the Refugee Action Coalition, showcasing opposition to the rallies.
• Clashes erupted in Melbourne during some protests, leading to police intervention.
• Recent laws in Australia target neo-Nazi symbolism amid rising far-right extremism.

On Sunday, thousands of Australians participated in anti-immigration rallies in cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Canberra, which the centre-left government condemned as attempts to spread hate and linked to neo-Nazi elements. The protesters, part of the "March for Australia," claimed that "mass migration has torn at the bonds that held our communities together," demanding what they termed an end to mass immigration, according to Reuters and India Times.

Murray Watt, a senior minister in the Labor government, emphasized the administration's strong disapproval, stating, "We don't support rallies like this that are about spreading hate and that are about dividing our community," during an interview with Sky News. He asserted that the demonstrations were "organised and promoted" by extremist groups Al Jazeera and India Times.

Reports indicated that between 5,000 to 8,000 people gathered in Sydney near the Sydney Marathon venue, many draped in Australian flags, as part of the rally. In response, a counter-rally was organized by the Refugee Action Coalition, emphasizing dissent against the far-right agenda. The coalition spokesman stated, “Our event shows the depth of disgust and anger about the far-right agenda of March For Australia,” according to Reuters and India Times.

In a notable incident in Melbourne, police were forced to intervene with pepper spray and baton rounds following violent clashes between anti-immigration protesters and counter-demonstrators. Approximately six arrests were made during the protests, which focused on the agenda of limiting immigration and pushed back against the narratives supported by the government, as detailed by Al Jazeera.

Australia has seen a concerning rise in right-wing extremism, with citizens being cautioned about the growing visibility and organization of such groups. New laws prohibiting the display of Nazi symbols and the salute were enacted in response to recent antisemitic incidents, illustrating the government's attempt to counteract rising extremism since the onset of Israel's war in Gaza in October 2023, according to Reuters and India Times.