Australia Unites: Clashes on cards as counter rallies set to flood city streets

Cities risk being flung into chaos as rival groups plan to shut down streets in counter-protests, with police anticipating clashes between troublemakers.

National rallies will be staged under the Australia Unites banner, made up of several splinter groups, on Saturday.

Organisers say the turnout will highlight Australians’ displeasure over worsening cost-of-living pressures, declining health outcomes, rising violence, financial strain and environmental policies that serve corporations.

Opposing groups led by Indigenous and Palestinian activist groups have planned a National Day of Action against racism and fascism in the same cities in response to neo-Nazis allegedly raiding an Indigenous camp in Melbourne on August 31.

Police in Victoria anticipate troublemakers among far-left and far-right groups will use protests as an excuse to pick a fight, warning of extended delays in Melbourne’s CBD.

Violent brawls broke out between anti-immigration protesters and anti-fascism groups, which led to police deploying pepper spray to separate demonstrators.

A group of men dressed in black had clashed with people at Camp Sovereignty in King’s Domain on August 31, following the March for Australia rally in the city.

The camp is a burial site with the remains of Indigenous people from 38 clans. It was first created in 2006 to coincide with the Commonwealth Games and re-established in 2024.

Ten men, some with links to neo-Nazi groups, have been arrested and charged in relation to the alleged assaults and affray.

Victoria Police say among the four groups set to turn out, those with far-right and extreme ideologies, as well as far-left and opposing views, will seek conflict and confront each other.

They could not discount the chance neo-Nazis would again take to the streets while a leader in the group remains behind bars.

Victoria’s Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said the government supported peaceful protest but rebuked any protesters who planned to engage in harm and violence.

“Do not ever use the cloak of protest to go out there and cause crime,” she said.

“There is no place for protests that spread harm, that spread hate, that spread fear and violence, and there is certainly no place in Victoria for neo-Nazis.”

Rallies will occur in Sydney, Hobart, Canberra and Brisbane but their state police forces have not warned of similar clashes.

Officers deployed in Melbourne will have extra powers to search people for weapons and can direct people to remove face coverings.