 | |
 Protesters march at the August rally inPerth | |
| Date | 31 August 2025 (2025-08-31) and 19 October 2025 (2025-10-19) |
|---|---|
| Time | 12 noon – 2 pm (ACST·AWST·AEST) |
| Location | Adelaide·Brisbane·Cairns·Canberra·Darwin·Hobart·Melbourne·Perth·Sydney·Townsville Other small satellite events |
| Type | Protest,demonstration |
| Motive | Reduction inimmigration to Australia |
| Participants | 50,000+ protesters and counter-protesters (police estimates) |
| Arrests | At least 21[a][b] |
| Website | marchforaustralia |
March for Australia was a series of nationwide protests in many Australian cities, that occurred on 31 August 2025 and on 19 October 2025.[1][6] The protests aimed to expressdiscontent towards perceived mass immigration in Australia.[7][8][9] The protests have been described asfar-right andwhite nationalist by many commentators.[10][11][12][13] Investigations byABC News andThe Age found the organisers of the rallies to have ties to variousNeo-Nazi and white nationalist individuals, including theNational Socialist Network.[10][14][15]
The marches were promoted by various politicians and commentators, includingOne Nation leaderPauline Hanson, One Nation senatorMalcolm Roberts, One Nation WA MLCRod Caddies, federal MPBob Katter, and neo-Nazi organisation National Socialist Network.[1][15][16] It was reported that theSydney protest was organised by pseudonymous nationalist figure Bec Freedom.[10][11]
The protests garnered significant media attention inside Australia and caused concerns among some migrant community groups.[17] Police estimated the number of protesters and counter-protester attendees for the August protest to be more than 50,000 across the country.[18][19][20]
ABC News Verify reported that organisers of the March for Australia rally had previously shared material associated with white nationalist ideas, including pro-Nazi and pro-Adolf Hitler content. The rally's website initially promoted "remigration", a far-right concept advocating the deportation of non-European peoples from Western countries, but the reference was removed shortly after the site went live.[10]
Researchers have linked March for Australia messaging to broader extremist narratives. Organizer "Bec Freedom" was captured on a recording saying, "We need violence, I'm sorry, but we need f—ing violence."[21] When confronted by2GB reporterBen Fordham, Freedom later apologised, but she was also recorded in a two hour livestream onTwitter on 11 August, advising people on how to covertly introduce far-right ideas to make them sound more palatable to the mainstream. "... this is how I tried to explain it to somebody. I say, OK, so protect Australian heritage, culture, way of life. Next step, protect European culture, heritage, way of life. The next step is protect white heritage. It all means the same thing." She emphasized that by framing it this way, it would be more acceptable to the Australian public, as she believes that the concept of "Australian" refers only to white people or those with European white heritage.[22][10]
Kaz Ross, an independent researcher of extremism, said this framing reflected a strategy to obscure far-right affiliations, noting organisers' prior references to "remigration" and "the great replacement," both linked towhite supremacist ideology. Political sociologist Joshua Roose ofDeakin University told ABC that far-right groups, including neo-Nazis, exploit concerns about migration, crime, and economic insecurity to advance "a much deeper, hate-filled, racist agenda," while emphasising that reasoned discussion on immigration policy remains possible.[10]
Approximately 1,000 people attended the anti-immigration rally in Canberra. The march began at theCaptain James Cook Memorial at Regatta Point ofLake Burley Griffin before continuing overCommonwealth Avenue Bridge toParliament House.One Nation leaderPauline Hanson and One Nation senatorMalcolm Roberts were among the speakers at the rally.[23][24]
An estimated 600 people attended the anti-immigration rally inEchuca/Moama.[25]
An estimated 500 people attended the anti-immigration rally inNewcastle.[25] No arrests occurred at this demonstration.[26]
An estimated 15,000 people were at the anti-immigration rally in Sydney, with between 2000 and 3000 people at a coinciding pro-Palestine march according to acting assistant commissioner Scott Tanner.[12][25][27] The march began fromBelmore Park nearCentral Station toVictoria Park inCamperdown, where speeches were given. NSWLibertarian MPJohn Ruddick was among the speakers at the rally.[28] One woman was arrested inHyde Park and was charged with breaching the peace.[28]
Police estimated that 6,000 people attended the protest.[25] The march began fromRoma Street Parkland and continued to the courtyard ofParliament House and the surroundingCity Botanic Gardens. QueenslandLibertarian Party president Lachlan Lade was among the speakers at the rally. Queensland Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Todd Reid commended the "overall peaceful behaviour" of the protest with only two people being arrested. One man was arrested and charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer and another was detained for a breach of the peace.[29]
According to theThe Cairns Post, thousands gathered for the march in Cairns. The march began at Freedom Park on the Cairns Esplanade and continued to Fogarty Park, also on the Cairns Esplanade.[30]
According to theABC around 400 people attended the anti-immigration march in Townsville. The march was led by members of theKatter's Australian Party. Former party leader,Bob Katter gave a speech at the march and was joined by Queensland state MPsNick Dametto andRobbie Katter.[31]
South Australian Police estimate that 15,000 people were present for the anti-immigration rally in Adelaide, including both participants in the March and the counter-protesters. The march began fromRundle Park upNorth Terrace toParliament House and then ontoPeace Park viaKing William Road. It was ended by organiserMark Aldridge after being "hijacked" by theNational Socialist Network, resulting in an altercation between protesters.[27][32] Three people were arrested and charged in the protests, two were charged with "wearing articles of disguise" and failing to state personal details and the other for assaulting police.[33]
A marcher at the Adelaide rally was seen holding a placard depicting Dezi Freeman, the alleged perpetrator of thePorepunkah police shootings that had occurred five days before the rally, where Freeman allegedly murdered two police officers and wounded another. At the time of the march, Freeman was on the run from police.[34] The man presented to a police station a few days later where he was arrested and charged with displaying offensive material in a public place.[34][35]
Approximately 300 protesters attended. No arrests occurred at this demonstration, howeverriot police were mobilised due to a clash between March for Australia and Rally for Hope protesters. Notable attendees includedOne Nation candidate for Tasmania Lee Hanson, andCity of Clarence councillor and former One Nation candidate Emma Goyne.[36] March for Australia drew a larger number of participants than the counter-rally.[36] Small decentralised demonstration inLaunceston, Tasmania.[27]
Police estimated that participants of the March for Australia demonstration and counter-protesters numbered approximately 5,000.[1] Protesters marched fromFlinders Street station toParliament House, where speeches where then given.Thomas Sewell, leader of theNational Socialist Network (NSN) was among the speakers at the rally.[16][27][37]
After the protest at approximately 5pm, a group of 40 to 50 men from the NSN, broke away from the remaining protesters and stormed theCamp Sovereignty camp around theKings Domain Resting Place memorial.[10][13][38][39] The group of attackers were reported to be armed with pipes and large tree branches, and appeared to target women and older members at the site's encampment, as well as damaging the sacred site.[37] Camp Sovereignty organisers including it's founderKrautungalung elderRobbie Thorpe told the ABC that four people were injured in the storming of the camp.[37][38]
Police ministerAnthony Carbines on 1 September 2025 confirmed that Victoria Police and counter-terrorism units were investigating the incident following a meeting with Chief CommissionerMike Bush, amid calls for it to be classed as ahate crime.[38] Sewell and other members of the NSN were arrested the following day on 2 September 2025, in relation to the incident.[40]
The following Saturday, on 6 September, in response to the attack, Camp Sovereignty hosted Sovereign Day Out, bringing together numerous performers and musicians as well as First Nations cultural displays. The event was attended by several hundred people.[41]
An estimated 250 people attended the anti-immigration rally inWodonga.[25][42]
An estimated 10,000 people were at the anti-immigration rally in Perth according toWestern Australia Police.[43][44] The march began fromSupreme Court Gardens and marched upSt Georges Terrace toParliament House, where speeches were then given.[44] WAOne Nation MPRod Caddies was among the speakers at the rally.[44] Three people were arrested in connection with the protest: two were charged with weapon related offences and the other for assaulting a public officer.[43] A further 13 were issued move-on notices.[43] Perth's rally appeared more subdued than those in the eastern states,[43] with only a few hundred counter-protesters.[44]
A second series of March for Australia protests occurred on 19 October 2025.[6]
More than 400 attended the anti-immigration rally in Canberra.[45] The march began at theCaptain James Cook Memorial at Regatta Point ofLake Burley Griffin before continuing overCommonwealth Avenue Bridge toParliament House at about 12:20pm according to anACT Policing spokesperson.[46][47] A group of counter protesters clashed with the march at the base of the bridge, with police keeping the two groups apart. Two people were arrested but were later released and told to move on from the area.[6][46]
An estimated 5000 people were at the anti-immigration rally in Sydney.[45][48] Protesters rallied and gave speeches inHyde Park before marching into theSydney central business district along Margaret,York and Druitt streets before returning to Hyde Park.[6][49] NSW Police said the group was well behaved, with no arrests being made and only one protester told being moved on after holding up the rally.[6]
A counter-protest was held atBelmore Park, in which about 200 counter-protesters attended.NSW Greens senatorMehreen Faruqi was among the speakers at the counter-protest.[50]
Several thousand attended the March for Australia rally in Brisbane.[45] Among the speakers at the rally were One Nation senatorMalcolm Roberts, Katter's Australian Party leaderRobbie Katter, former Katter's Australian Party leaderBob Katter and former Liberal senator andPeople First Party leaderGerard Rennick.[51]Queensland Police Service confirmed that three people have been arrested, one man was arrested during the rally and two women were arrested at the counter protest.[51] The counter-protest had around 300 people according to police.[51]
According to theThe Cairns Post, hundreds gathered for the march in Cairns. The march began at Fogarty Park on the Cairns Esplanade and continued into the city streets.[52]
Several thousand attended the March for Australia rally in Adelaide.[45] The rally began atLight Square before marching through theAdelaide city centre. Dozens gathered at a counter-rally held atVictoria Square.[53] A South Australia Police spokesperson stated that both protesters and counter-protesters were well behaved with only a single arrest. The arrest was of a 36-year-oldYankalilla woman for disorderly behaviour and refusal to state name and address.[54]
At least 100 attended the March for Australia rally in Hobart.[45] The rally occurred on the Salamanca Lawns ofParliament House.[55] Among the speakers was the daughter of One Nation leaderPauline Hanson and One Nation candidate for Tasmania Lee Hanson.[56] Tasmania Police state that the protest was peaceful with no escalation of tensions between protesters and counter-protesters and no intention from either group to clash.[57]
At least 800 attended the March for Australia rally in Melbourne.[45] Protesters rallied on the steps ofParliament House where speeches were given before a march towardsFlinders street station and back to Parliament House.[58] Victoria Police Commander Wayne Cheeseman described protesters as peaceful and following instructions.[48]
Victoria Police Commander Wayne Cheeseman condemned counter protesters who clashed with officers. Further, he described rocks, bottles filled with shards of glass and rotten fruit being thrown at police; and further stated that bins and flags were lit on fire by the counter protestors.[48][59] Victoria Police officers used tear gas, capsicum spray, stun grenades and rubber bullets to repel the counter protesters nearSpring Street after they attempted to confront March for Australia demonstrators.[59][58] Police advised that two of their officers were injured in confrontations with counter protesters; a sergeant suffered a suspected broken hand after being kicked and a senior constable with a cut to the leg.[58] Victoria Police said that one woman had been arrested and that further arrests were likely to be made with police still looking for up to 20 people allegedly responsible for the violence.[60][59]
Several hundred attended the March for Australia rally in Perth according to the ABC.[45] The march began fromLangley Park and into the city.[61]
Some leaders of immigrant communities warned community members to stay inside and avoid the protests in case of potential violence.[62]
Federal MPBob Katter held a press conference on 28 August, in which he expressed support for the protests. He was asked a question by aNine News reporter about Katter'sLebanese heritage, to which Katter responded by threatening to punch the reporter in the mouth in a clip that became a viralinternet meme.[63][64][65]
The Australian government noted their concern surrounding the protests and called them "Un-Australian".[14][62] Prime MinisterAnthony Albanese responded to Katter's comments, saying, "You're speaking to someone called Albanese. We've got a Senate leader called[Penny] Wong. Migration enriches. Except for the First Australians, we're all either migrants or descendants of them."[66]
Elon Musk shared a post onTwitter that incorrectly claimed that 150,000 people attended the August Brisbane and Sydney protests. Police estimated that attendance at those protests was 21,000.[25]
