Tear gas used as ‘March for Australia’ protest turns violent
Riot police deployed pepper spray, tear gas, and rubber bullets as violent clashes erupted between anti-immigration protesters and counter-demonstrators in Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday.
Riot police were caught in the middle when opposing protests on immigration became volatile. (Jay Kolger/AAP PHOTOS)
The confrontation took place during the March for Australia rally, an anti-immigration protest linked to far-right groups including the National Socialist Network. Supporters gathered on the steps of Parliament House, demanding an end to what they labelled “mass immigration”. Far-right and neo-Nazi participants displayed symbols and rhetoric historically associated with antisemitic movements.
Counter-protesters, organised by the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism, met at the State Library before marching through the city with signs reading “No neo-Nazis” and “Stop fascism”, alongside Palestinian and Aboriginal flags.
Victoria Police reported a small group of counter-protesters started throwing rocks, bottles, and fruit at officers about 12.30 pm. Two police officers were injured—a female sergeant with a suspected broken hand and a male senior constable with a leg laceration. Several shields were cracked by the force of the impacts.
The Public Order Response Team used flash distraction devices and OC spray to disperse the crowd. A 30-year-old woman from Brunswick West was arrested, and police are seeking further offenders.
Commander Wayne Cheeseman from Victoria Police’s Northwest Metro Region said officers faced an “extremely volatile and violent environment”.
“We make no apologies for officers having to use force to separate and safely disperse crowds,” he said. “Police do not attend protests with the aim of using force; it’s always in response to the actions of protesters.”
He added that some of the objects thrown at police could have caused fatal injuries.
“It’s not a small rock, these rocks cracked some of our shields today,” he said. “This could kill someone; that’s the bottom line.”
Police also deployed tear gas and rubber bullets near Spring Street after a smaller group of anti-immigration protesters clashed with officers.
Similar March for Australia rallies occurred in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Hobart as part of a coordinated national movement calling for cuts to immigration. While most events were peaceful, police in several cities reported tense stand-offs between protesters and counter-protesters.
In Sydney, thousands marched through the CBD chanting nationalist slogans, while Adelaide saw scuffles between opposing groups. Hobart’s demonstration remained calm under close police supervision.
Sunday’s unrest followed similar clashes at a previous “March for Australia” rally in August and came as organisers of Melbourne’s weekly pro-Palestine rallies announced a pause in their Sunday marches following the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Pro-Palestine demonstrators had rallied every week since Hamas’ October 7 2023 massacre in Israel, calling for a permanent ceasefire and support for civilians in Gaza.
While police managed the latest protests, Housing Minister Harriet Shing described Melbourne as “thriving, vibrant and busy” during a press event in Footscray.
“Again, there is always a space for protest activity, but it needs to be done safely,” she said.
Victoria Police have urged anyone with footage or information about Sunday’s incidents to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
I note the ABC did not report violence by the the Pro-Australia MArch participants. Rather according to the ABC (!!!), Head of Vic Police Mark Cheeseman said certain ideologically motivated groups came to the protest specifically looking to attack police.:
“The people that came to pick a fight with police were the issue-motivated people on the left,” he said. “The March for Australia group were peaceful, were engaging, they listened to our instructions.”