Australia Day 2026 as it happened: Man arrested over antisemitic remarks at Sydney rally; Hanson fronts Brisbane rally after protesters call to ‘fight Pauline’

Thanks for reading our rolling coverage of Australia Day – here’s what’s been happening around Sydney and the country today:

• A 31-year-old has been arrested after making antisemitic remarks at the March for Australia rally in Sydney, in which he voiced support for neo-Nazis Thomas Sewell and Joel Davis, earning cheers from sections of the demonstration. Operation Australia Day Commander, Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden, said the comments were “unequivocally assigned” with neo-Nazi ideology, alleging they “well and truly” breached free speech principles. At least one neo-Nazi group member attended the March for Australia rally and was moved on without incident.
• About 10,000 attended the Invasion Day rally in the Sydney CBD, joined by a further 8000 at the Yabun Festival in Victoria Park. A peaceful but angry crowd gathered at Hyde Park blasted One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, calling for young people to “mobilise to fight Pauline”, while also taking aim at the Albanese government and the state’s new protest laws. About 2000 protesters are estimated to have joined the March for Australia rally, also occurring in the Sydney CBD.
• In Canberra, protesters involved in Invasion Day and March for Australia rallies were forcibly separated after a brief confrontation near Old Parliament House. A similar scuffle occurred in Sydney, where a handful of Invasion Day protesters confronted a group of men holding Australian flags. Pauline Hanson addressed rowdy March for Australia demonstrators in Brisbane as the Resolve Political Monitor showed One Nation support has climbed to a record high.
• Australia Day celebrations at Manly were dampened after two shark sightings in the water, one week after a critical attack at North Steyne Beach. Meanwhile, Australians took to Sydney Harbour and the city’s beaches to enjoy the festivities as many enjoyed their first day as Australian citizens. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese diverted from his prepared speech at the national citizenship ceremony this morning, urging a group of new Australians to “leave behind the burden of prejudices and hatreds”.

This is where we’ll leave our rolling coverage of Australia Day.

Our wrap of Australia Day can be read here. Thank you for your company.

The 31-year-old man arrested after making antisemitic remarks during the March for Australia rally in Sydney has been charged this evening, hours after he was detained following his speech in an open-mic portion of the demonstration at Moore Park.

He was charged with publicly inciting hatred on the grounds of race and causing fear by NSW Police, and was refused bail to face court tomorrow.

Operation Australia Day Commander, Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden alleged the man “well and truly” violated principles of free speech this afternoon, as he voiced his support for neo-Nazis Thomas Sewell and Joel Davis, and criticised new hate speech laws passed following the Bondi terror attack.

McFadden said the remarks were “unequivocally assigned” with neo-Nazi ideology.

The day is coming to a close, but a fun evening is just beginning here at Parramatta Park.

Thousands of locals have been walking up from the CBD to the centre of the parklands, where the local council has organised several hours of live music, food stalls and carnival rides.

The main area, located at the Cattle Paddock, is bordering capacity. But the main show is yet to come: Australian rocker Shannon Noll is due to headline the concert later this evening, and a hot air balloon light show will cap off the evening at 9pm.

A man who made antisemitic remarks during the March for Australia rally has been arrested.

The man, wearing a black shirt with a Celtic cross, participated in the open-mic portion of the event at Moore Park. He criticised the new hate speech laws and made antisemitic remarks to a small group of people who cheered.

He then voiced his support for neo-Nazis Thomas Sewell and Joel Davis before walking off-stage.

Police followed the 31-year-old and arrested him on Bourke Street, Surry Hills.

Newcastle sisters Shannon, Atlanta, Sheridan and Tennessee Knowles made the two-hour train trip to Circular Quay for Australia Day.

“We’re very proud to be Australian,” Atlanta said, “and we want to make sure everyone else knows.”

International tourists have lined up for photographs with the sisters since earlier this morning.

“I’m going to need Botox, I’m smiling that much,” Shannon said.

“We love it because not everyone is from Australia, so they get to take a piece home with them,” Atlanta said.

The sisters said they’d met people from all over the world, including Germany, Canada, France and the US.