Rival groups clash at Melbourne anti-immigration rally

MELBOURNE • Several hundred Australian nationalists and anti- racism activists clashed with police in Melbourne yesterday, in a rare display of violence in a country where immigration has become an increasingly emotive political issue.

Meanwhile, fear of young Australian Muslims being inspired by militant groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has underpinned support for right-wing groups like Reclaim Australia and the United Patriots Front. “The clear message is that Melburnians aren’t going to stand for the kind of far right racist, sexist, homophobic attitudes that have really been embodied in both the United Patriots Front and Reclaim Australia, and that we’re prepared to take a stand in the city, that we’re prepared to say Melbourne is not the place for those kinds of attitudes”, she said. According to reports, some protesters broke police barriers separating the two groups, with authorities then deploying capsicum spray to ebb the scuffle. Despite anticipation of violent clashes Ms Kenway said police had overreacted in terms of numbers and by blocking off streets. A similar protest in the city of Adelaide was less eventful, although one person was arrested there.

Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane said a small number of hardline protesters had gone along with the intention of using violence against each other and police.

“””(Police) were at significant threat of having their lines over run and it was a tool we had to use at the time”, he said. “I think the message of the day from either side has been lost and I think they need to sit back and think about that”, he said.

Politicians have steered clear of the rallies, but government legislator George Christensen accepted an invitation from Reclaim Australia to speak at one in the Queensland coastal town of Mackay on Sunday.

But Richard Marles, from the opposition Labor Party, said Reclaim Australia events were “synonymous with racist behaviour”. On Friday, ALP’s Tony Burke criticised the Prime Minister for allowing his colleague to attend the rally, highlighting the irony of the move – in the wake of the recent Q&A scandal and ensuing boycott.