Jacinta Price has praised the ‘proud and decent Australians’ who took to the streets on Sunday for anti-immigration rallies across the country. 

Protests named March for Australia were held in key cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Hobart, as well as in some regional towns, to demonstrate against the nation’s unprecedented immigration levels.

Anthony Albanese condemned the protests as seeking ‘to divide and undermine’ social cohesion. 

However, Price, the Liberal Party Senator for the Northern Territory, praised those who marched on Sunday.   

‘Our national flag embodies so much: our history, narrative, geography, resources, people, accomplishments, camaraderie, sacrifices, institutions, traditions, values, unity, loyalty, and patriotism,’ she noted yesterday.

‘The national flag symbolizes Australia’s achievement: the interweaving of Indigenous, British, and broader migrant elements of our narrative – each contributing a proud legacy.

‘Our national flag inspires gratitude: to our forebears for all they did to protect this country and ensure it prospers.

‘The flag reminds us of our obligation as responsible citizens: to pass on to the future generations a nation better than the one we received.’

Jacinta Price praised the ‘proud and decent Australians’ who joined the anti-immigration March for Australia protests on Sunday

Thousands attended a March for Australia Rise Up Rally in Sydney on Sunday

There was a heavy police presence at the rally locations with several clashes taking place as marches were met with counter-demonstrations.

The government had also warned some protestors had far-right links and would be ‘spreading hate’. 

Price condemned ‘neo-Nazis and racists’ who planned to ‘hijack’ the marches, and said they ‘reject what our flag represents’. 

‘That being said, many individuals carrying our national flag today represent our national values and are proud and honorable Australians,’ she added.

‘These Australians are marching because they have valid concerns about the consequences of unprecedented mass migration under the Albanese government and the disruptions to our social unity.’

She also hit out at government warnings against participation in the rallies and questioned why similar statements had not been issued for the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that had taken place across the country in recent months.  

‘Protests must be peaceful,’ she said. ‘But where were their similar warnings for so many pro-Palestinian rallies that have occurred on our soil since the sordid scenes on the steps of the Sydney Opera House on 9 October 2023? 

‘Rallies where protesters have chanted genocidal slogans, displayed Hamas symbols and Nazi swastikas, waved flags of terrorist organisations, carried photographs of Iran’s oppressive dictator – and even burnt the Australian flag.’

The March for Australia rally in Sydney was largely peaceful and no arrests were made

Protestor holds up sign condemning Anthony Albanese and foreign minister Penny Wong

‘The double standards must stop,’ Price stated. 

‘If we are to be a united Australia, then threats to our social cohesion must be called out wherever they are present at rallies – not selectively. Go Team Australia!’

One Nation senator Pauline Hanson and federal MP Bob Katter were amongst several opposition politicians who joined the marches. 

Police said six protestors were arrested and officers were injured following clashes in Melbourne with counter-protesters.

Three people were arrested in Adelaide as 15,000 attended the rally while in Brisbane Police estimated around 6,000 protestors were in attendance. 

One man was arrested and charged with two counts of assaulting police, and another man was detained for the breach of the peace.

No arrests were made in Sydney or Hobart.