How Anti-Immigration Protests in Australia Sparked Widespread Controversy

Thousands of Australians recently joined anti-immigration rallies in several cities, amid condemnation from the government, which claimed they sought to spread hate and were linked to Neo-Nazis

The protests sparked mixed reactions from both official and public figures, reflecting social and political tensions and a deep divide over migration, asylum, and cultural integration.

Meanwhile, the Refugee Action Coalition organized a counter-protest in Sydney, attended by hundreds, expressing their rejection of the far-right agenda.

While the government strives to maintain social cohesion and strengthen hate speech laws, it faces challenges from groups that argue current policies do not adequately address the needs of local citizens.

Observers said Australia has reached a turning point, suggesting the weekend’s events signal a new era of far-right normalization and political violence.

Neo-Nazis

On August 31, major cities, state capitals, and rural areas across Australia witnessed large-scale anti-immigration demonstrations, coinciding with record levels of migration in recent years.

As part of the March for Australia events, thousands gathered in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, and Perth, chanting slogans demanding the mass deportation of immigrants.

Marching at the front of the Sydney event, dozens of men from the National Socialist Network (NSN), a Neo-Nazi group, took centre stage, standing behind a banner that read: ‘End mass-immigration now’.

In Melbourne, the group was involved in fights, and its leader secured a speaking spot. A man wearing their insignia addressed the crowd in Adelaide, too.

The NSN, whose beliefs extend far beyond a policy of less immigration and into proud racism, antisemitism, and even veneration of Hitler, had managed to achieve pride of place.

An investigation has found that the website of the March for Australia previously contained a reference to the white nationalist concept of ‘remigration’, before it was mysteriously deleted.

Remigration calls for the return of immigrants of non-European descent to their country of origin.

Organizers' insistence before the march that the NSN — or any other group — played no part in the march clashed with the optics of what occurred.

In Sydney, Neo-Nazis were given time to air their hateful views at the end of the march, as part of an open mic segment.

Neo-Nazis stood near the front of the crowd as NSW Libertarian MP John Ruddick took the stage to advocate for a five-year immigration pause.

In Canberra, senators from the far-right anti-immigration One Nation Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts joined March for Australia protesters, as did Federal MP Bob Katter in Townsville.

In Melbourne, the group's notorious leader, Thomas Sewell, addressed the crowd from the steps of parliament.

He called for the protection of white Australian heritage, targeting particularly the Indian and Chinese Australian communities.

He also promoted the ‘Great Replacement’ theory, imported from white supremacist groups in the U.S., which views immigration as a means of replacing white people with non-European immigrants.

The recent protests in Australia come amid rising right-wing extremism, coinciding with new laws banning Nazi salutes and the display or sale of terrorist symbols in Australia this year, in response to anti-Semitic attacks since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023.

Australia’s domestic intelligence agency warned earlier this year of the growing threat of nationalist and racist violent extremism and issue-motivated extremism, fueled by personal grievance, conspiracy theories, and anti-authority ideologies.

In a related context, experts attributed the expansion of the protests to the interplay of three key factors, which contributed to the rise of anti-immigration sentiment in Australia. 

The first factor is socio-economic, encompassing the decline in living standards, wages, and housing affordability, as well as increased crime and strain on public services in Australia, with immigration often being blamed for these issues in public discourse.

The second factor is political, relating to the organization of far-right groups on social media platforms and their use of divisive rhetoric and misinformation.

The third factor is legal and security-related, concerning the legal and media controversy surrounding the criminalization of Nazi symbols and hate speech, and the ensuing debate about the limits of freedom of expression.

Racial Protests

The Australian government, led by Anthony Albanese, strongly condemned the anti-immigration protests that swept the country, warning that there is no place for any form of hatred in Australia.

Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt said the rallies aimed to spread hatred and divide society, noting that they were promoted by Neo-Nazi groups.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that “there is no place in our country for those who seek to divide our society and undermine its cohesion.”

For her part, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Anne Aly, described multiculturalism as an integral part of the national identity, emphasizing that far-right activities based on racism and ethnic bigotry have no place in modern Australia. 

“We stand with all Australians, regardless of where they were born, against those who seek to divide us and intimidate migrant communities. We will not be intimidated,” she said.

Opposition Leader Susan Ley called for calm and respectful behavior ahead of the protests, noting that there is no place for violence, racism or intimidation in Australia.

“In Australia, we protect the right to freedom of expression and protest, but this must be done peacefully and respectfully,” she added.

“While strong borders keep us safe, they also allow us to be generous and compassionate towards those fleeing conflict,” she said.

She concluded that “this is the Australian story: respect, tolerance, and community, and it belongs to all of us. What unites us will always be stronger than what seeks to divide us.”

For his part, Senator David Shoebridge, Greens spokesperson for Immigration, said the party stands in solidarity with all communities targeted by these hateful rallies.

“While a small number of extremists seek to divide us, let us instead focus on empowering the millions of Australians who help build and are part of a compassionate and welcoming country,” he added.

Mehreen Faruqi, Greens spokesperson for anti-racism, said that the far-right has become more brazen thanks to sections of the media and the political establishment.

She explained that “these rallies should be described for what they are: acts of fear-mongering and incitement of racial hatred.”

Controversial Migration

In response to the protests, the Australian government announced on September 2 that the 2025-2026 immigration program would remain at the same levels and settings as the 2024-2025 program.

The government reaffirmed its skilled migration cap at 185,000 for 2025-2026.

The Department of Home Affairs indicated that visa applications were processed at the same levels as last year, meaning no significant change in the implementation mechanism.

However, the immigration program has remained controversial domestically, leading to thousands taking to the streets last month to protest what they see as high levels of immigration.

According to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the country recorded a net overseas migration of 446,000 people during the 12 months ending June 30, 2024.

Temporary students made up the largest group of new arrivals to Australia, numbering approximately 207,000.

In a related development, Education Minister Jason Clare announced in August a national planning level of 295,000 places for international students in 2026, a move he said aims to manage growth sustainably.

The Australian government itself acknowledged the impact of immigration, which reached record levels in 2022 and 2023.

Subsequently, the government adopted a strategy to tighten immigration, student visa, and temporary work visa processes, aiming to reduce net migration in 2024 and 2025.

Net overseas migration actually fell by 37% from a 2022–2023 peak of 538,000 to 341,000 by December 2024.

Official data shows that about one-third of Australia's population was born outside the country, and about half have at least one parent born overseas.

The Australian Human Rights Commission notes that most asylum seekers arrive by air, not by sea, contrary to the prevailing public perception.

Australia is one of the countries that relies heavily on immigration to drive its economic and social growth.

However, the debate about the impact of immigration on Australian society is not new.

The country experienced several waves of immigration after World War II, leading to significant cultural and demographic diversity.

Following the dismantling of the White Australia Policy in the 1970s, the country gradually shifted to selecting immigrants based on skills, while accepting refugees through humanitarian programs.

However, moments of tension have recurred, from the Cronulla Riots in 2005, through the anti-Islam protests in 2015, to the ongoing debate about detaining asylum seekers arriving by sea in offshore detention facilities in 2018.

These events constitute a collective memory that is often invoked whenever debates about identity, security, and borders intensify.