Australia's far-right on the march as concerns about immigration grow

Oct 19 rallies smaller than earlier ones in August which featured neo-Nazis

- Jonathan Pearlman For The Straits Times

New South Wales police amid protesters holding Australian national flags and banners during the March for Australia rally in Sydney on Oct 19. There was no prominent neo-Nazi presence, unlike earlier rallies in August. PHOTO: AFP

(AFP)

SYDNEY Thousands of people took part in anti-immigration rallies in Australia on Oct 19, as far-right groups rise in prominence and seek to capitalise on public concerns about immigration.

The latest protests followed a previous round of demonstrations on Aug 31 under the banner "March for Australia", which attracted more than 50,000 people across the country and featured prominent contingents of neo-Nazis and white supremacists as well as several right-wing MPs.

But the protests on Oct 19 were noticeably smaller and attracted an estimated 15,000 people, which analysts said was likely due to the revelations that the August protests had neo-Nazi links.

There was no prominent neo-Nazi presence, but there were reportedly some racist chants and violence, with two police officers hurt in Melbourne and some people detained in Canberra, local media said. There were also counter-protesters - numbering about 2,000 - who denounced racism and voiced support for immigration.

In Melbourne, police deployed pepper spray, flash-bangs and rubber bullets during a tense standoff with counter-protesters, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. The police said rocks and bottles had been thrown at them.

An expert on the far-right, Dr Jordan McSwiney, from the University of Canberra, told The Straits Times that the August rallies were the "most effective mobilisation of the far-right ever in Australia". But he said the smaller numbers at the Oct 19 rally were likely due to people realising the earlier rally was organised by neo-Nazis.