Protesters clash as thousands take to streets for anti-immigration rally

Anti-immigration protesters carrying placards and Australian flags clashed with counter-protesters during Sunday’s March for Australia, which attracted thousands of people to Brisbane’s CBD and led to one arrest.

The march, which comes just a week after the huge March for Palestine, began about midday in Roma Street Parklands before the large crowd flowed into the city centre, through King George Square and down Adelaide and Edward streets towards the Botanic Gardens.

On Sunday afternoon, police confirmed an estimated 6000 people attended the rally, including the counter-protesters.

Assistant Acting Commissioner Tod Reid said one man was arrested and charged with two counts of assaulting police, while another was detained for breaching the peace.

Despite dozens of police posted throughout the city, anti-immigration supporters clashed with counter-protesters in Roma Street Parklands about midday.

Thousands of protesters supporting the anti-immigration March for Australia arrived at the parklands’ amphitheatre from 11am waving a range of flags, including the Eureka Stockade and Australian maritime ensigns.

Shortly after midday, hundreds of counter-protesters, many of whom covered their faces or wore masks, arrived along Wickham Terrace waving their own flags – transgender rights, Palestine, Aboriginal, LGBTQIA, and Antifa– as well as banners such as “no Nazis, never again”.

Police formed a line between the two groups as they hurled expletives and chants at each other.

The counter-protesters adopted First Nations slogans such as “Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land”, and addressed the protesters as Nazis.

“If you’re brave, take away your mask,” said one March for Australia protester.

A counter-protester, wedged between two people holding signs depicting burning Australian flags, stood feet away with hand outstretched begging for the protester to give them an Australian flag.

As police pushed the counter-protesters back half an hour into the stand-off, and 30 minutes after the planned march time, the anti-immigration group erupted into cheers before swarming into the CBD towards Parliament House.

Reid would not divulge how many police were involved in the operation, but said a routine evaluation would be undertaken to assess their response.

He said police were aware that counter-protesters would be present, but he reiterated the importance of protest organisers sharing their plans with QPS as early as possible to ensure everyone’s safety.

“In the future, when [people are] going to be involved in any protest activity, continue to engage with us early. Let us know what your intentions are ... because that enables good planning ... [and allows us to] keep the people of Queensland safe,” he said.

At the parklands earlier, Brisbane Times approached a woman holding a sign calling for an end to mass migration and condemning the burning of flags, as had happened earlier this month following pro-Palestinian protests in Melbourne.

Another protester named Peter, who wasn’t particularly concerned about foreign flags, said his main issue was housing supply.

“I’ve got friends here who are all immigrants – in fact, everyone I live with is an immigrant, and they’re all great people – but the simple fact is that while there’s a housing crisis, [the government] needs to put a stop to it [immigration] to get ahead,” he said.

The march coincided with similar rallies across the country organised by far-right nationalists and promoted by neo-Nazis.

Federal MP Bob Katter, who had backed the rallies earlier in the week – and coupled his support with a threat to punch a Nine journalist in the mouth – was seen among crowds at the Townsville rally.

A Facebook event created for the rally stated: “Australia is changing in ways most of us never agreed to. People are waking up to a country they barely recognise. Endless migration, weak leadership, and political cowardice have brought us here, and it’s time to put a stop to it.”

The marches have been widely condemned, with members of Queensland’s Indian community urged to stay home for fear of violent attacks.

On Sunday morning, ahead of the protests, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie reiterated comments he made on Saturday that the movement had a right to protest, but he asked those assembling to “do it in a safe and respectful manner”.

“We’re asking that no lines be crossed, and if a line is crossed of religious vilification, attacking a multicultural community, or inciting hate towards any individual or group ... we don’t tolerate that,” he said.

With Alex Condon and Cameron Atfield

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