Canberra: Anti-immigration marches swept through Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart under the banner of “March for Australia.” The protests targeted increasing migration, particularly of Indians, stirring a debate that quickly drew strong condemnation from the Australian government.

The rallies, publicised on the group’s website and social media, were framed as a stand to “protect” Australia’s culture. Flyers even claimed, “More Indians in 5 years, than Greeks and Italians in 100,” describing the trend as “a replacement plain and simple.”

Government calls protests divisive

The Anthony Albanese government, in a statement on Thursday, said it stood firmly against such events. “All Australians, no matter their heritage, have the right to feel safe and welcome in our community,” the statement read.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was more direct: “There is no place in our country for people who seek to divide and undermine our social cohesion. Nothing could be less Australian.”

Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly called multiculturalism “an integral and valued part of our national identity,” adding, “We stand with all Australians, no matter where they were born, against those who seek to divide us and who seek to intimidate migrant communities. We will not be intimidated.”

What the organisers say

On its website, the March for Australia group claimed that mass migration had “torn at the bonds that held our communities together.” It said the march was “a stand for the people, culture, and nation that built Australia – and for our right to decide its future.”

A social media post from the group added that the rallies aimed to do “what the mainstream politicians never have the courage to do: demand an end to mass immigration.”

Strong rebuke from ministers

Murray Watt, Minister for Environment, told Sky News on Sunday, “We absolutely condemn the March for Australia rally that’s going on today. It is not about increasing social harmony.

“We don’t support rallies like this that are about spreading hate and that are about dividing our community,” he said, adding the events were “organised and promoted” by neo-Nazi groups.