<\/p>\n
Police outside Flinders Street Station on Sunday. (ABC News: Sacha Payne)<\/p>\n
Anti-immigration group Put Australia First started marching outside Flinders Street Station shortly before midday on Sunday, with crowds heard chanting “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie”.<\/p>\n
Protesters marching with the group told media they were marching for immigration reform that preserves Australian values, and voiced opposition to digital IDs and a net zero emissions target.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A man carries multiple Australia flags at the CBD rally. (ABC News: Sacha Payne)<\/p>\n
Counter-protesters, expressing support for migrants, women and the trans community, gathered outside the State Library at a similar time, with police seen searching one person and protesters chanting “No racist police”.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A few hundred counter-protesters had gathered outside the State Library on Sunday morning. (ABC News: Mikaela Ortolan)<\/p>\n
The protests, watched on by riot police, remained largely peaceful as groups marched through the CBD amid heavy rain.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A police officer conducts a wand search of a counter-protester outside the State Library.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Riot police were stationed along Swanston Street. (ABC News: Mikaela Ortolan)<\/p>\n
During the march the counter-protesters, who carried a large banner that read “Unite to fight the right!”, were seen yelling into megaphones nearby police and an effigy was set alight.<\/p>\n
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Counter-protesters marching along Swanston Street on Sunday. (ABC News: Mikaela Ortolan)<\/p>\n
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Police watch over a burning effigy on Swanston Street. (ABC News: Mikaela Ortolan)<\/p>\n
The counter-protest dispersed at about 1pm, shortly before One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson addressed the Put Australia First rally at Flagstaff Gardens.<\/p>\n
“You have no idea how proud you make me feel,” Ms Hanson told those in attendance.<\/p>\n
“To see the Australian flags are flying with pride. To see the people out there with different cultural backgrounds.<\/p>\n
“But at the end of the day, we are all Australians together.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Pauline Hanson addressing the anti-immigration protest in the Melbourne CBD. (ABC News)<\/p>\n
Ms Hanson said she “welcomed those people who have come here to find a new life for themselves and their families and future generations”.<\/p>\n
“They’ve worked hard to be part of this great nation,” she said.<\/p>\n
“But it breaks my heart to see the division that is happening, the division that is happening especially in this state.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A crowd watches Senator Hanson’s speech at Flagstaff Gardens. (ABC News: Sacha Payne)<\/p>\n
“For too long … I have seen the plan to divide us as a nation with multiculturalism, globalisation, to take away who we are, with dignity, to stand proud.<\/p>\n
“We do have a culture. And we should be proud of it. We acknowledge other cultures around the world. And we must embrace and love ours.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Anti-immigration protesters outside Flinders Street station on Sunday morning. (ABC News: Sacha Payne)<\/p>\n
Ms Hanson said “activists” branding her as divisive were mischaracterising her message.<\/p>\n
“I’m not divisive. All I’ve ever done is pull people together and be proud of who we are.”<\/p>\n
The relative calm of the rallies contrasted with scenes during countering protests last month that lead to multiple arrests.<\/p>\n