Sydney:  Tens of thousands of Australians participated in coordinated anti-immigration demonstrations on Sunday under the banner “March for Australia,” prompting strong condemnation from the federal government and sparking clashes in several cities.

Large gatherings were reported across major urban centers, including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Darwin, Canberra, Townsville, Brisbane, Hobart, Perth and Cairns. Estimates suggest that more than 35,000 people took part nationwide. Sydney drew between 5,000 and 8,000 participants at Belmore Park, while Adelaide hosted the largest single rally, with about 15,000 demonstrators gathering in Rundle Park.

While organizers framed the protests as a call for stronger national identity and tighter immigration controls, the rallies were marred by the visible presence of extremist groups and violent confrontations. In Melbourne, clashes erupted between anti-immigration protesters and counter-demonstrators, prompting police to use pepper spray and mounted officers to restore order. In Adelaide, tensions rose when a self-identified National Socialist attempted to address the crowd. Police arrested three people, including one charged with assaulting officers.

The National Socialist Network, a neo-Nazi group, appeared in several locations. In Sydney, its members marched through King Street in black uniforms chanting racist slogans. In Melbourne, members of the group clashed with other protesters and assaulted security personnel with flagpoles. Adelaide also witnessed an attempted stage address by an extremist before being cut short.

The rallies were organized by nationalist activist Bec Freedom and co-organizer Hugo Lennon. Slogans and promotional material, which included statements about protecting “white heritage” and claims of demographic “replacement,” drew widespread criticism for explicitly racist undertones.

Political figures including Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts in Canberra, as well as Bob Katter in Townsville, attended or voiced support for the events, adding a layer of political endorsement to the demonstrations.

The federal Labor government led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the rallies, describing them as divisive and dangerous. Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said the protests undermined social cohesion and played into the hands of extremist groups. Authorities had already introduced laws banning Nazi salutes and symbols in response to rising far-right activity in the country.

In Darwin, about 200 protesters marched from Civic Park to the Northern Territory Parliament House, demanding Albanese’s resignation and accusing immigration policies of diluting Australian identity. Organizers denied accusations of racism, but critics pointed to extremist rhetoric and neo-Nazi involvement as evidence to the contrary.

The “March for Australia” highlighted growing polarization over immigration, housing pressures and multiculturalism. While many participants expressed concerns about infrastructure strain and cultural cohesion, the involvement of extremist organizations and racist messaging cast a shadow over the demonstrations, raising questions about the role of radical ideologies in shaping Australia’s immigration debate.