Many Protests Happen in Australian Cities

People gathered in many Australian cities to protest different issues like racism and government actions. In some places, like Melbourne and Sydney, protests about the Israeli president's visit led to clashes with police, and pepper spray was used.
By Newsroom | Australia, Social Issues |

Thousands of people gathered in Australian capital cities for a series of protests. Events ranged from rallies against racism and government corruption to demonstrations concerning the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog. In Melbourne, a significant police presence was noted, and clashes were reported at some rallies, with allegations of pepper spray use and physical altercations between police and protesters.

Background of Demonstrations

Recent weeks have seen multiple protests across Australia, covering a wide spectrum of concerns. In September 2025, capital cities experienced a day of demonstrations, including an anti-racism rally in South Brisbane, an "Australia Unites Against Government Corruption" march in Adelaide, and an Indigenous Sovereignty rally in Hobart. Hundreds also attended an "Australia Unites" rally in Darwin.

Australia news live: strong police presence as thousands gather at Melbourne Herzog protest; Dan Tehan quits Liberal frontbench and confirms deputy tilt - 1

More recently, protests intensified around the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog. In Melbourne and Sydney, these rallies became heated, leading to police deployment of pepper spray. Protesters stated their intention to continue demonstrating throughout President Herzog's visit.

Evidence of Events

"Protests in Melbourne and Sydney against Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit got heated, with pepper spray used, and allegations of police throwing punches." - Article 2

"They are going to protest every day while the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, is here, they’ve said…" - Article 2

Read More: Protests in Melbourne During Israeli President's Visit

Police in Melbourne were anticipating a large turnout and potential conflict due to multiple planned rallies on a Saturday in September 2025. These included nationalist, anti-government, and anti-racism protests. This was particularly in the context of previous violence at an anti-immigration march held a little over two weeks prior.

Australia news live: strong police presence as thousands gather at Melbourne Herzog protest; Dan Tehan quits Liberal frontbench and confirms deputy tilt - 2

  • Protestors' Focus: Protection of "Camp Sovereignty" was a stated focus for police.

  • Police Mobilization: Officers were drawn from across Victoria, with some working on their days off.

  • Risk Assessment: Authorities noted intelligence suggesting a risk of neo-Nazi attendance at one of the rallies.

Conflicting Demonstrations

Melbourne's central business district became a focal point for several opposing rallies. These demonstrations covered a range of issues:

  • Racial and Migration Concerns: Protests related to racism and migration were documented.

  • Political Discontent: Rallies also addressed broader anti-government sentiments and corruption.

  • International Relations: The visit of the Israeli President generated significant public demonstration.

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The convergence of these diverse groups led to a substantial police response. Reports indicate that officers were anticipating potential clashes between opposing factions.

Australia news live: strong police presence as thousands gather at Melbourne Herzog protest; Dan Tehan quits Liberal frontbench and confirms deputy tilt - 3

Police Response and Public Order

A considerable police presence was observed in Melbourne's central business district during the recent protest activities. This "show of force" was in anticipation of opposing rallies gathering.

  • Deployment: Police resources were mobilized extensively, with officers called in from various regions of the state.

  • Preparedness: The police presence was a deliberate measure to manage crowd dynamics and prevent escalation of tensions.

  • Allegations: Reports included the use of pepper spray by police during a rally in Sydney, and allegations of physical altercations during protests in Melbourne.

Expert Analysis

No direct expert analysis or quotes were available in the provided data.

Australia news live: strong police presence as thousands gather at Melbourne Herzog protest; Dan Tehan quits Liberal frontbench and confirms deputy tilt - 4

Conclusion and Implications

The gathered evidence indicates a period of heightened public assembly and, in some instances, conflict across Australia's capital cities. The protests spanned a variety of socio-political issues, from domestic concerns like racism and government accountability to international events such as the visit of a foreign head of state.

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The significant police mobilization and reported use of force, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney, underscore the challenging public order situations encountered. The stated intent of some protest groups to continue demonstrations highlights the ongoing nature of these issues.

Further investigation may be required to ascertain the specific outcomes of clashes, the long-term impact of the protests on public discourse, and the effectiveness of police management strategies.

Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What were the protests about?
The protests were about many things, including racism, government corruption, and the visit of the Israeli President.
Q: Did anything bad happen at the protests?
Yes, in Melbourne and Sydney, there were clashes between protesters and police. Police used pepper spray in some cases.
Q: Will there be more protests?
Some protesters said they would continue to protest while the Israeli President was visiting.