Thousands march to WA parliament as part of national anti-immigration rally

Thousands of people marched to WA’s Parliament House as part of a national anti-immigration rally movement on Sunday.

WA Police put the crowd at around 10,000 people, issuing 11 move on notices and three arrests during the mostly peaceful protest, as more violent scenes played out at other March for Australia rallies across the country.

The protesters were opposing the increase in the country’s migration rates, with one sign at the rally reading, ‘It’s the pace, not the race’.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows WA, in the year to December 2024, had an extra 70,300 people added to its net population; 45,124 from overseas, 12,576 from natural increase, and 12,612 from interstate.

Counter-protesters to the rally chanted “Nazi scum off our streets” and there were heated exchanges as the anti-immigration crowd marched down St George’s Terrace.

One Nation MLC Rod Caddies addressed the crowd saying, “we’re here as patriotic Aussies” and, “there’s a lot of love here for this country”.

“We’re here because we’re upset with government decisions of bringing in so many people,” he said.

“There’s people that can’t get places to stay, but we’re allowing thousands and thousands of people in every day to this country.”

Caddies’ inclusion on the rally’s lineup had drawn the ire of the WA Greens earlier in the week, with anti-racism and multicultural affairs spokeswoman Sophie McNeill describing it as “completely inappropriate” for a WA parliamentarian to speak at the event.

“We are a proudly diverse state. Racist, bigoted views have no place in Western Australia,” McNeill said.

“Immigration and welcoming new friends, workmates and family to WA only strengthens our community and it helps build a better society for us all.”

As the afternoon drew to a close, WA Police reported three people had been arrested at the event; two were charged with weapons-related offences and one for assaulting a public officer.

“The WA Police Force respects the rights of individuals to express their views and will only intervene when a protest becomes unlawful or poses a risk to public safety,” a spokeswoman said.

About 11 move-on notices had been issued.

Perth’s rally appeared more subdued than those in the eastern states.

Six people were arrested and two police were injured following violence at the rally in Melbourne, where protesters and counter-protesters clashed.

Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell addressed the crowd in front of the Victorian Parliament House to call for an end to mass migration, despite the rally’s organisers previously denying any connection to Sewell or his white supremacist group, National Socialist Network.

A Palestinian flag was burned by anti-immigration protesters after being snatched from counter-protesters, while police were forced to use pepper spray to intervene as brawls broke out throughout the day.

Federal MP Bob Katter addressed the march in Townsville, stating: “When oppression becomes law, resistance becomes duty.”

And in Canberra, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and senator Malcolm Roberts addressed the crowd, where Roberts claimed mass migration had made people feel “the death of Australian identity”.

Meanwhile, in Adelaide, a protester held up a sign featuring the face of the alleged Porepunkah gunman Dezi Freeman, with the words “free man” on it.

Federal minister Murray Watt had earlier condemned the rallies and said: “The fact that this is being organised and promoted by neo-Nazi groups tells us everything we need to know about the level of hatred and division that these kind of rallies are about.”

Liberal senator James Paterson, who has long championed strict migration laws, said many Australians held sincere views on the topic but warned neo-Nazis would be present at the rallies.

With AAP, Reuters, Roy Ward