Pauline Hanson at the March for Australia rally in Canberra yesterday (31 August). Photo: Pauline Hanson Facebook.
Some of Canberra’s federal politicians have led the charge in condemning the anti-immigration rallies that took place in cities across Australia on Sunday (31 August).
Close to a thousand protestors, joined and addressed by One Nation’s Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts, gathered by Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra around 11 am before marching across Commonwealth Avenue Bridge from Regatta Point to Parliament House.
One man was arrested.
Thousands more marched in other capital and regional cities around the country. While they chanted anti-immigrant and anti-government slogans, the marches were condemned (both before and after they took place) as being hateful and hijacked by neo-Nazis.
On Monday morning, Assistant Productivity Minister and Member for Fenner, Andrew Leigh, strongly criticised the protests, including the fact that some federal parliamentarians had joined in some of them.
“The last thing we need in Australia is neo-Nazis taking the platforms to demonise immigrants,” Dr Leigh said.
“Apart from Indigenous Australians, all of us are migrants or the children of migrants. Migration has greatly strengthened Australia.
“Migrants aren’t just mouths to feed, they are muscles to build and minds to inspire.
“The story of migration is a proud story for Australia, as is the strong story of multiculturalism and the way in which we’ve managed to show the world how we can build a peaceful and tolerant democracy.
“I was really troubled by some of the scenes yesterday, including some of the attacks on police.
“There’s no place for that kind of hate mongering in Australia, and I’m troubled by the fact that some politicians seem to think that it’s okay to fuel fear for direct partisan gain.”
Independent ACT Senator David Pocock also condemned the rallies during an ABC radio interview on Monday morning, calling for a more sensible debate on migration.
“I think this is really damaging when it comes to the message it’s sending to migrants across the country,” Senator Pocock said.
“And some of the slogans and behaviour we saw are totally unacceptable … On the broader point, one of my frustrations has been that there is a real lack of appetite from the parliament to actually have a debate about this in a sensible way.”
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley made a statement in response to the rallies. She titled the statement ‘Australia’s Social Cohesion Crisis’.
“This past weekend rallies occurred across Australia, attended by people of goodwill, but hijacked by neo-Nazis spouting hate, racism and resorting to politically motivated violence,” Ms Ley said.
“That can never be accepted. Extremism has no place in Australia.
“We must never import the bitterness of overseas conflicts into our communities.
“What unites us as Australians will always be stronger than those who seek to divide us. But we cannot take that unity for granted.”
The Opposition Leader called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to show greater leadership on the issue.
“This is a moment that demands leadership. Our society is resilient, but its fabric is being steadily eroded by extremism,” she said.
“Australians expect their leaders to rise to the challenge, to call out hate in all its forms, and to bring the country together. The Prime Minister must show that leadership now.”
Liberal frontbencher Jacinta Nampijinpa Price defied her leader and praised the protests that took place around the country.
The Northern Territory Senator congratulated the marchers and dismissed the suggestion that neo-Nazis had organised the events.
In a Sky News interview on Monday, Senator Price stated that the vast majority of people who attended the rallies loved Australia.
“I know that those marches that were being held yesterday were for reigniting the spirit of Australia, to make our children proud to call themselves Australian once more,” she said.
Senator Price condemned anyone calling themselves neo-Nazis, but added that they were not representative of the majority of those people protesting at Sunday’s rallies.
Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi moved a motion in the Senate on Monday, condemning MPs who attended the rallies.
Queensland independent Bob Katter – who threatened to punch a reporter in the mouth last week for daring to ask about the federal MP’s Lebanese background – enthusiastically addressed the anti-immigration rally in Townsville on Sunday.
