Protests across major Australian cities, including Melbourne and Sydney, have led to significant disruptions as thousands of demonstrators rallied under the Australia Unites banner. The protests, which took place on Saturday, focused on a range of pressing issues, including rising living costs, deteriorating health outcomes, increasing violence, and climate change denial. Organisers reported that participants included various splinter groups voicing their grievances.
In Melbourne, protesters gathered in the central business district, where many carried signs with messages such as “We’re not right-wing, we’re just right.” Concurrently, opposing groups, including Indigenous and Palestinian activists, staged a National Day of Action against racism and fascism. This response followed an incident on August 31, when neo-Nazis allegedly raided an Indigenous camp in the city. Demonstrators at Flinders Street Station chanted, “always was, always will be Aboriginal land,” highlighting the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights.
Police Presence and Public Safety Measures
Authorities deployed dozens of officers, including mounted police, in Melbourne to prevent potential clashes among the competing groups. Police established orange barricades, maintaining a distance of approximately 50 metres between the two demonstrations. Aerial footage from the ABC showed police forming lines to cordon off areas, while reports indicated that capsicum spray was used during the protests, resulting in a scuffle involving at least one individual.
Law enforcement received additional powers for the protests, enabling them to conduct searches for weapons and instruct attendees to remove face coverings. In Sydney, the Australia Unites protesters initially planned to march across the Harbour Bridge but altered their route after police contested the decision in court. Instead, they rallied in the central business district, concluding their demonstration at Hyde Park while waving Australian and Eureka flags. Following the event, police confirmed that a 50-year-old man was arrested for breaching the peace.
Historical Context and Government Response
Concerns about violence at protests have been heightened due to previous incidents. In August, violent confrontations occurred between anti-immigration protesters and anti-fascism groups in Melbourne, necessitating police intervention and the use of pepper spray. This ongoing tension reflects wider societal divisions, especially in the wake of the alleged attacks on the Indigenous camp at Camp Sovereignty, which serves as a burial site for Indigenous people.
Sonya Kilkenny, the Victorian Attorney-General, expressed support for peaceful protests while condemning those who resort to violence. “Do not ever use the cloak of protest to go out there and cause crime,” she stated, emphasizing that “there is no place for protests that spread harm, that spread hate, that spread fear and violence.” Her comments underline the government’s position on maintaining public safety during such events.
While Sydney’s protests concluded without major incidents, authorities remained vigilant in Melbourne as the afternoon progressed, anticipating possible confrontations. Rallies were also reported in Hobart, Canberra, and Brisbane, although police in these locations did not anticipate similar clashes.
In a related event, approximately 50,000 people attended the March for Humanity rally in central Auckland, New Zealand, on the same day, opposing Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have reportedly resulted in nearly 65,000 fatalities since October 2023. The scale of these demonstrations highlights the growing global concern over political and humanitarian issues.
