“Australia Sees Mass Anti-Immigration Rallies; Government Blames Neo-Nazis”

Australia Sees Anti-Immigration Protests Amid Rising Tensions

Thousands of Australians took to the streets on August 31, 2025, in a series of “March for Australia” protests against mass immigration. These rallies were held in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, and more

Main Demands and Messages

Protesters carried banners and flyers demanding a halt to immigration, citing concerns such as housing shortages, infrastructure strain, and cultural changes. Many said migration was putting pressure on the economy and local resources . Some flyers singled out Indian migrants, with slogans like “More Indians in 5 years than Greeks and Italians in 100,” raising alarm in the large Indian community in Australia

Government and Public Response

The Australian government strongly condemned the rallies. Officials said the protests involved neo-Nazi and far-right groups and spread hate rather than promote dialogue. Anne Aly, the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, said such far-right activism had no place in modern Australia

Clashes and Violence

While many protests were peaceful, some turned violent:

• Melbourne: Police used pepper spray and baton rounds to break up clashes between anti-immigration protesters and pro-Palestinian or counter-demonstrators
• Adelaide: An extremist tried to hijack the stage at the rally. Organisers halted the event. Three people were arrested, including someone carrying controversial posters .
• Camp Sovereignty Attack: After the protests, a group linked to the demonstrations attacked an Indigenous protest site called Camp Sovereignty in Melbourne, injuring several women and damaging property. The attackers used racist slurs, and police are investigating

Counter-Protests and Divided Voices

Many groups, including the Refugee Action Coalition, held counter-rallies in cities like Sydney and Perth to oppose the anti-immigration movement and support migrant communities C. India’s large diaspora in Australia expressed fear, and community leaders called for calm and safety

What This Means

These events spotlight a deep divide in Australian society—between voices calling for migration control and those defending multiculturalism. Government leaders and civil society groups emphasized that Australia’s strength lies in its diversity, and unity must prevail against hate speech

Also reaed: Tamil Film Better Tomorrow awarded ‘ Best International Feature Film ‘ at the AmiCorti International Film Festival Italy 2025