Thousands of protesters in Australia took to the streets in demonstrations against immigration, while the government stated these marches aim to spread hatred and divide society.

On Sunday, August 31, 2024, several Australian cities witnessed large anti-immigration protests organized by a group known as “March for Australia,” attracting thousands of participants in Sydney, Melbourne, and several regional capitals.

The protests carried slogans calling for a halt to “mass immigration,” amid official accusations linking the organizers to new Nazi groups and rising concerns over the growth of far-right movements.

The Australian government, led by the Labor Party, strongly condemned these marches.

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Murray Watt told Sky News, “These protests have nothing to do with promoting social cohesion,” adding, “We do not support gatherings that aim to spread hatred and divide society.” He accused the organizers of being “linked and promoted by new Nazi groups.”

The government emphasized that Australia, where migrants or their descendants make up half the population, will not tolerate practices that threaten social fabric, noting the country has already seen a notable rise in far-right extremism in recent years.

In Sydney, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) estimated the number of participants between five and eight thousand, some waving national flags, in a scene coinciding with a massive marathon involving about 35,000 runners finishing at the Opera House.

Nearby, the Refugee Action Coalition organized a counter-protest attended by hundreds. A coalition spokesperson said the event “reflects deep disgust and anger at the far-right agenda,” affirming that the diverse Australian community “rejects this exclusionary language.”

In Melbourne, the capital of Victoria state, ABC aerial footage showed large crowds downtown. Media reports said riot police used pepper spray to disperse some protesters after scuffles broke out. Victoria Police said they would issue a statement later detailing the events.

The participation of political figures sparked widespread criticism, notably the presence of populist MP Bob Katter in a march in Queensland. Katter had caused a stir days earlier after threatening a journalist who referenced his Lebanese origins during a press conference about his participation in these marches.

Conversely, politicians from various parties expressed concern over the rise of hate speech, warning that “authorities’ leniency towards such protests could open the door to extremist ideology infiltration.”

One Sydney protester, Glen Alchin, told Reuters: “It’s about our country becoming overcrowded while the government brings in more and more people. Our kids struggle to get homes, we wait long hours in hospitals, and our roads are congested.”

Similar statements came from other participants who spoke of “pressure on public services” and “declining job and housing opportunities” due to immigration, as they described it.

According to Reuters, these marches come amid the rising influence of far-right extremist groups in Australia, some linked to new Nazi groups that participated in protests over the past two years. This coincided with a wave of anti-Semitic attacks targeting Jewish temples, buildings, and cars, especially after the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.

In response, the government this year enacted laws banning the Nazi salute or the display and sale of symbols associated with groups classified as terrorist, in an attempt to curb extremist activities and limit hate speech.