2 days ago
Blunt warning issued to demonstrators planning to take part in anti-immigration rallies: 'No place in Australia'
Supporters of an anti-immigration rally are being warned not to attend the massive protest, with politicians branding the movement as having 'no place' in Australia.
March for Australia is organising the protests that will take place on August 31 in several capital cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth and Adelaide.
The organisers, who described themselves as a 'grassroots coalition of nationalists, patriots and everyday Australians', have the aim of gathering likeminded people to demand an end to mass immigration.
'For years, Australia's unity and shared values have been eroded by policies and movements that divide us,' the March for Australia website states.
'Our streets have seen growing displays of anti-Australian hatred, foreign conflicts, and disintegrating trust, whilst mass migration has torn at the bonds that held our communities together.'
Much of the March for Australia website touts anti-migrant rhetoric, which has drawn the support of people with far-right political views who are promoting the rally on social media.
'Australia is changing in ways most of us never agreed to. People are waking up to a country they barely recognise,' the website reads.
'Endless migration, weak leadership, and political cowardice have brought us here, and it's time to put a stop to it.'
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Anne Aly claimed the protest had 'no place in modern Australia'.
Dr Aly, who was born in Egypt and migrated to Australia when she was two years old, warned the rally would not intimidate the multicultural communities in the country.
'Multiculturalism is an integral and valued part of our national identity,' Dr Aly told Newswire.
'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.
'This brand of far-right activism grounded in racism and ethnocentrism has no place in modern Australia.'
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke branded the protest as un-Australian, saying it would only 'undermine' the country's unity.
'There is no place in our country for people who seek to divide and undermine our social cohesion,' Burke said.
'We stand with modern Australia against these rallies - nothing could be less Australian.'
Locations for the protests have yet to be confirmed, however, the rallies are being promoted across social media.
Supporters have shared a flyer online saying 'it's time to take our country back', 'defend our culture' and 'stop mass migration now'.
Daily Mail contacted state and territory police forces about the March for Australia rallies and were told most were yet to be informed about the protests.
NSW and Queensland Police said they had not received a Notice of Intention to hold a public assembly, while WA and Victoria have also asked organisers to engage with officers.
An SA Police spokesman said they are liaising with the people behind the protests to ensure a peaceful march, and ACT Police said the force is aware of planned protest activity later this month and will respond to any activity appropriately.
A March for Australia spokesman told Daily Mail it has not finalised locations and so filing permits is not yet workable.
'Locations are to be finalised on the 15th of August, at which point permits will be able to be organised. Submission time requirements for most permits are incredibly short, ranging from one week to a couple of days before the event.'
Little is known about the people behind the group, but they have been forced to clarify that they are not affiliated with neo-Nazis.
Thomas Sewell, an alleged member of neo-Nazi group National Socialist Network (NSN), posted on Telegram about a similar event, seemingly claiming to be behind it.
In the image for the post, it promised a protest on August 31 at midday in the same cities with the declaration: 'It's time to take our country back.'
While still remaining relatively anonymous, March for Australia made it clear they are 'not members of, nor acting on behalf of, any other group', they told Daily Mail.
'We are not associated with their organisation.
'Additional claims that we are associated with Israeli, Jewish, or Palestinian movements or organisations are also unfounded and untrue.'
In a lengthy post shared on Instagram, March for Australia organisers also rejected any association with the alt-right 'National Socialist Network, White Australia, or Thomas Sewell Uncensored'.
The organisers added those behind the rally come from a 'diverse range of political backgrounds'.
It comes just three weeks after a pro-Palestine rally shut down the Sydney Harbour Bridge and brought the CBD to a standstill.
NSW Police admitted they were caught off guard when the 90,000-strong crowd turned out for the 'March for Humanity' rally on August 3.
Authorities said if there had been a crowd crush, the event might have been 'catastrophic'.
The demonstrators highlighted what the United Nations has described as 'worsening famine conditions' in Gaza and called for peace between Palestine and Israel, increased sanctions on Israel and the delivery of urgent aid to Gaza.
