Thousands Rally Against Immigration in Australia Amid Government Neo-Nazi Links

Thousands of protesters participated in the March for Australia anti-immigration rallies held across multiple Australian cities, including Sydney and Melbourne, with some chanting slogans like "send them back" and neo-Nazi groups distributing flyers promoting a "white Australia". The rallies, organized by various online groups, called for an end to mass immigration, claiming it has torn communities apart. Australia's center-left Labor government strongly condemned the demonstrations, asserting they spread hate, divide communities, and are linked to neo-Nazi organizations. Senior Labor minister Murray Watt emphasized these rallies do not increase social harmony and are promoted by extremist groups. Counter-protests were held by community activists such as the Refugee Action Coalition, expressing strong opposition to the far-right agenda behind the rallies. Australia has been confronting rising right-wing extremism, leading to new laws banning Nazi salutes and terror group symbols in response to antisemitic attacks following the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict.