Anti-migrant rallies stir alarm

Australia’s leaders yesterday condemned anti-immigration protests over the weekend that saw tens of thousands of people gather in cities across the country, chanting slogans like “send them back” and “stop the invasion.

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The government has described the protests as racist, and politicians from both sides of the aisle expressed concerns about the presence of neo-Nazi groups.

Australia is grappling with the growing threat of extremist ideology, amid a rise of far-right nationalism in countries around the world.

Australia prides itself on its multiculturalism, but experts say discontent among some groups has been growing because of a lack of affordable housing and soaring living costs.

About 15,000 people gathered for the “March for Australia” anti-immigration rally in Sydney on Sunday, while as many as 3,000 people attended a counterprotest organised by a pro-Palestinian group, police said. In other parts of Australia, police said that thousands of people attended rallies, but did not distinguish between protesters and counterprotesters.

Populist politicians made speeches at some rallies, while at others, members of small neo-Nazi groups spoke and led chants of “heil Australia”, local media reported.