Thousands of Australians took to the streets on Sunday in anti-immigration rallies, with organisers controversially singling out Indian migrants. Promotional material for the “March for Australia” rallies claimed the rise in Indian migration was leading to cultural “replacement,” sparking widespread criticism.
Large demonstrations were seen in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Townsville, where protestors carried national flags and anti-immigration placards. In Sydney, 5,000–8,000 people gathered, while Melbourne saw tense clashes between marchers and counter-protesters, resulting in six arrests and two injured police officers.
Organisers described their movement as grassroots and denied extremist ties, but the presence of far-right figures, including neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell, drew strong condemnation. Flyers and posts linked to the rallies highlighted that the Indian-born population has doubled over a decade, now exceeding 845,000.
Politicians across party lines denounced the marches. Multicultural Affairs Minister Dr Anne Aly called the events “grounded in racism and ethnocentrism,” while Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said there was “no place” for rallies seeking to divide. Opposition leaders also expressed concern about the rallies’ anti-Indian and antisemitic undertones.
Counter-demonstrations by refugee rights groups highlighted Australia’s diversity as a national strength. The Australian Council of Social Services said, “There is no place in Australia for ideology that targets people for who they are.”