Nationwide March for Australia protests have attracted significant attention as organisers call for an \u201cend to mass migration\u201d.<\/p>\n
The protests have been broadly criticised amid concerns about the potential presence of neo-Nazis.<\/p>\n
However, many people have also defended the rallies, arguing that participants have genuine concerns about mass migration in Australia.<\/p>\n
Organisers of the march have called for an \u201cend to mass migration\u201d and expressed concerns about \u201canti-Australian hatred\u201d and \u201cdisintegrating trust\u201d.<\/p>\n
There is expected to be a heavy police presence as the marches kick off from 12pm at Sydney’s Belmore Park, Roma Street Parkland in Brisbane and Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Further March for Australia rallies have been scheduled in Hobart, Darwin and Townsville – as well as counterprotests in several cities.<\/p>\n
Shadow finance minister James Paterson told Sky News Sunday Agenda he had serious concerns about the presence of neo-Nazis at the rallies.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m sure there will also be Australians who are not neo-Nazis there today who are sincere in their concerns, but I would encourage Australians to avoid protests,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are not the only protests that have occurred in our country over the last two years that have struck fear in the hearts of some Australians.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany of the pro-Palestinian protests in this county have been deeply distressing \u2026 and have featured the flags and symbols and logos of listed terrorist organisations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke faced criticism<\/a> earlier in the week for issuing a tough statement against the rallies, given he has never rebuked anti-Israel protests.<\/p>\n Environment Minister Murray Watt told Sunday Agenda that the Albanese government \u201cabsolutely condemns\u201d the March for Australia rallies.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don’t support rallies like this that are about spreading hate and that are dividing our community. I sincerely hope that there’s no trouble that arises,” he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact that this is being organised and promoted by neo-Nazi groups tells us everything we need to know about the level of hatred and division that these kinds of rallies are about.\u201d<\/p>\n Organisers have said the events aim to address concerns about mass migration<\/a>, housing pressures, and the \u201cAustralian way of life\u201d.<\/p>\n In Sydney, digital creator Bec Freedom, who leads the local rally, has previously instructed supporters to frame the protests as defending \u201cAustralian heritage\u201d.<\/p>\n