Two police officers were hospitalised and several others injured during violent clashes between anti-immigration protesters and counter-protesters in Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday, marking one of the most tense public order incidents in recent months.
The chaos unfolded during the “March for Australia” rally, attended by hundreds opposing mass immigration. Counter-protesters — including anti-racism activists — confronted the group near Parliament House, prompting heavy police intervention to prevent direct clashes.
According to Victoria Police, officers were pelted with rocks, bottles filled with shards of glass, and rotten fruit, while several bins and flags were set on fire in scenes described as “disgraceful and dangerous.”
A female police officer suffered a broken hand, and a male officer sustained a deep leg laceration after reportedly being struck with glass. Both were taken to hospital for treatment.
At a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Victoria Police Commander Wayne Cheeseman poured out a box of small rocks and held up a larger stone allegedly thrown at officers, expressing outrage at what he called a “cowardly and criminal attack” on frontline police.
“This is what was thrown at police today,” Cheeseman said. “Bottles filled with shards of glass were being thrown, flags were on fire, bins were on fire — I think Melbourne has had a gutful. Enough’s enough.”
Police responded using four flash bangs, two stinger balls, one rubber bullet, and 50 rounds of VKS pepper balls, as they worked to disperse the violent elements of the crowd.
Commander Cheeseman blamed the “issue-motivated groups on the left” for instigating violence, insisting that the March for Australia demonstrators “were peaceful, cooperative, and followed police instructions.”
“The people who came to pick a fight with police were from the counter-protest side,” he said. “We support people’s right to protest, but we also have a right to go home safe. We don’t come to work to be assaulted.”
Witnesses reported seeing an Australian flag set alight, and photographs captured banners burning amid the chaos.
While The Age reported hearing racist conspiracy theories shouted by some anti-immigration demonstrators, Cheeseman said police observed no violent behaviour from that group, but stressed that any incidents of hate speech would be investigated under Victoria’s anti-vilification laws.
He estimated that around 1,000 people took part in the Melbourne rallies. A man was arrested for allegedly assaulting the injured female officer, and three other individuals were struck by rocks, though no further hospitalisations were reported.
Medical personnel were seen treating several protesters for chest and leg injuries allegedly caused by the police’s crowd-control munitions, according to reports.
“We can see something very serious happening if this continues,” Cheeseman warned. “It could happen at the drop of a hat.”
Similar anti-immigration protests took place across Australia on Sunday, including in Sydney and Brisbane. In Sydney, police estimated 5,000 demonstrators attended without any reported clashes or arrests. In Brisbane, politician Bob Katter was among those spotted in the crowd.
Commander Cheeseman concluded that while police defend the democratic right to protest, there must be limits:
“Melbourne deserves better. Violence has no place in public debate.”
