Anti-Migration Marches Across Australia Spark Condemnation and Fears of Rising Extremism
Jitendra Deo
Chief Executive Officer
JD Group Australia
Sydney, 2 September 2025 – Thousands marched through major Australian cities over the weekend as part of the controversial “March for Australia,” with demonstrators voicing opposition to the federal government’s immigration policies. While organisers claimed the movement was focused on housing shortages and job competition, the rallies quickly drew condemnation for being overtaken by far-right extremist groups and for targeting migrant communities.
Protests were held in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and other regional centres on Sunday. According to estimates cited by ABC News and The Guardian Australia, over 15,000 protesters gathered in Sydney alone. Placards and chants at the rallies denounced what they described as “mass migration,” while organisers called for a cut to Australia’s annual migrant intake.
However, extremist groups such as the National Socialist Network—an openly neo-Nazi organisation—were visible at several events. In Melbourne, members of the group violently confronted Indigenous activists at the Camp Sovereignty protest site, reportedly wielding sticks and shouting racist and sexist slurs. As reported by The Guardian (1 Sept. 2025), several women of colour were assaulted in the attack, prompting calls for hate crime investigations.
“These scenes are completely unacceptable,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a press release issued Monday morning. “Peaceful protest is part of our democracy, but hate speech and violence are not. There is no place in Australia for racism or intimidation.”
Migrants and Journalists Targeted Indian Australians and other ethnic communities were explicitly targeted at some of the marches. IndiaTimes reported (1 Sept. 2025) that flyers distributed at the Adelaide and Sydney rallies accused Indian migrants of “overrunning” Australian suburbs, equating demographic shifts with “invasion.” The language used mirrored historical “White Australia” rhetoric, civil rights groups noted.
ABC journalist Nabil Al-Nashar, who covered the Sydney march, revealed he had received hundreds of racist messages after his report aired. “I was called an invader, told to leave the country, and subjected to abuse no journalist should face,” Al-Nashar told News.com.au (2 Sept. 2025).
Dr Prisha Menon, spokesperson for the South Asian Community Council, condemned the messaging: “This is not just about housing. This is a campaign of scapegoating, and Indian Australians are being used as political targets,” she told SBS News.
Affairs Minister Anne Aly strongly condemned the events, calling them “clearly racist” and warning of the resurgence of white nationalist groups. “Legitimate concerns are being hijacked by people pushing a divisive, dangerous ideology,” Aly said in comments reported by SBS and ABC News.
Opposition senator Jason Hargreaves of the United Australia Party acknowledged growing public frustration over housing and infrastructure but cautioned against platforming hate. “We must be able to discuss migration policy without feeding into xenophobia,” he told Sky News.
Divisions and Aftermath
The protests, described by many commentators as the largest organised anti-migration demonstration in Australia in two decades, have sparked renewed debate about the balance between national capacity and cultural inclusion.
Civil rights groups, including Amnesty International Australia, have called for stronger legislative protections against hate speech, as well as more public investment in multicultural education.
“Multiculturalism is not the problem,” said Erin Shah, director of Amnesty Australia. “It’s part of the solution to building a more inclusive, resilient society,” she told The Guardian.
As Australia continues to welcome record numbers of skilled migrants, the federal government faces growing pressure to address infrastructure concerns while firmly countering the rise of extremist narratives exploiting economic insecurity.
(Sources: The Guardian Australia, 1 Sept. 2025, ABC News Australia, 31 Aug.–2 Sept. 2025, IndiaTimes, 1 Sept. 2025, SBS News, 1 Sept. 2025, News.com.au, 2 Sept. 2025, Sky News Australia, 1 Sept. 2025, Amnesty International Australia, media statements)
