Australia saw massive anti-immigration rallies this week, with close to 15,000 people taking to the streets in major cities under the campaign banner March for Australia. The demonstrations, which demanded an “end to mass migration,” were marked by the participation of far-right groups and inflammatory messaging that placed Indian migrants directly in the crosshairs.
The flyers circulated before and during the protests accused political leaders of ignoring public sentiment and warned of a cultural shift brought by Indian migration. One pamphlet read, “More Indians in 5 years than Greeks and Italians in 100.” Although organisers defended the statement as a statistical comparison, critics noted its racial undertones and the attempt to stir resentment against a specific community.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that Indian-born residents have steadily increased since the early 2000s, making them the second-largest migrant group after those from the UK. By June 2023, the Indian-born population stood at around 8.4 lakh, representing just 3.2 per cent of the total population in 2024. Analysts say economic stress, housing shortages, and unemployment have made migrants an easy scapegoat, with Indians becoming a prime target due to their visibility and recent growth in numbers.
The rallies also exposed disturbing links to extremist elements. Members of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network (NSN) were visibly present, with its leader, Tom Sewell, addressing the Melbourne crowd. Sewell, a self-proclaimed white supremacist, donned insignia associated with neo-Nazis and declared the movement a fight for a “white nation.” Videos from the event showed participants cheering as he spoke. Social media accounts backing the protest revealed a spectrum of far-right ideologies, including misogyny, climate change denial, anti-abortion sentiment, and open support for Donald Trump.
Mainstream politicians expressed concern over the extremist presence. Senator James Paterson condemned the singling out of Indian Australians as “shameful and wrong.” South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas described the protests as a minority view, emphasising that nearly all Australians share an immigrant heritage. “Multiculturalism is not just tolerated but celebrated,” he said.
Counter-demonstrations organised by groups such as the Palestine Action Group drew between 2,000 and 3,000 participants. Their slogans reminded protestors of Australia’s immigrant past, with placards reading, “You are all immigrants.”
“There are always decent individuals who show up to express their opinions on specific matters, but what we are witnessing here is Neo-Nazis being provided a platform,” stated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in an interview with ABC News.
While organisers of March for Australia denied being linked to neo-Nazis, an ABC News investigation found that members had previously shared memes and online content glorifying Nazi ideology. The Albanese government has since labelled the protests as being influenced by neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups, reaffirming the positive role played by migrants, including the Indian community, in shaping modern Australia.
