1000's attend Australia anti-immigration rallies

[ad_1] 1000's of Australians have turned out for anti-immigration rallies throughout the nation that have been condemned by the federal government as having far-right hyperlinks and "spreading hate".

March for Australia rallies befell in Sydney, Melbourne and different main cities - with a number of clashes going down as marchers have been met with counter-demonstrations.

Quite a few opposition politicians joined the marches, together with One Nation senator Pauline Hanson and federal MP Bob Katter.

Australia has confronted a latest rise in right-wing extremism and made the Nazi salute punishable by a compulsory jail time period earlier this yr.

As much as 8,000 individuals assembled for the Sydney rally, in line with broadcaster ABC. Police mentioned a whole bunch of officers have been deployed throughout town however noticed "no vital incidents".

In Melbourne, protesters clashed with attendees of a separate pro-Palestine rally. Among the many audio system was Thomas Sewell, a recognized neo-Nazi who addressed crowds from the steps of Parliament Home.

In Adelaide, police estimated that 15,000 individuals have been current at each a rally and counter-demonstration, and mentioned that crowds have been "usually well-behaved", in line with native media.

One demonstrator was seen with a placard expressing help for Dezi Freeman, a conspiracy theorist and self-described "sovereign citizen" who's accused taking pictures useless two law enforcement officials on his property earlier this week. A big-scale manhunt for Freeman, 56, is now underneath means.

The marches have been promoted by a number of opposition politicians, neo-Nazi figures, and a few anti-lockdown campaigners who rose to prominence throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

The March for Australia web site says "Australia's unity and shared values have been eroded by insurance policies and actions that divide us", including that "mass migration has torn on the bonds that held our communities collectively".

The group additionally says it's also involved about tradition, wages, visitors, housing and water provide, environmental destruction, infrastructure, hospitals, crime and lack of neighborhood.

Earlier this week, the federal government mentioned it stood in opposition to the rallies, warning "there is no such thing as a place for any kind of hate in Australia".

Dwelling affairs minister, Tony Burke, mentioned: "There is no such thing as a place in our nation for individuals who search to divide and undermine our social cohesion.

"We stand with trendy Australia in opposition to these rallies – nothing could possibly be much less Australian."

Dr Anne Aly, the minister for multicultural affairs, mentioned: "We stand with all Australians, regardless of the place they have been born, in opposition to those that search to divide us and who search to intimidate migrant communities. We is not going to be intimidated.