Australia braces for anti-immigration rallies amid far-right concerns

Thousands of people were expected to attend coordinated antiimmigration rallies and counterprotests across Australia on Sunday as organisers of the March for Australia planned gatherings in capital cities and regional centres, prompting strong government condemnation, heightened police deployments and fears among migrant communities of possible violence. Demonstrations were due to begin from midday in cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, Hobart and Darwin.

Organisers say the events call for an end to what they describe as mass migration, arguing immigration has eroded social cohesion. Promotional material circulated online urged participants to "take our country back" and banned foreign flags, and the March for Australia website framed the rallies as a defence of Australian culture. The organisers have denied links to white supremacists and neo-Nazi groups, but a prominent extremist has publicly claimed involvement, raising alarm among authorities and community leaders.

Thomas Sewell, a self-described neo-Nazi and leader of the National Socialist Network, wrote on Telegram that his group would attend rallies in all capitals and Townsville, and...