Rival rallies reached within 50 metres of each other outside Victoria’s parliament, where a large contingent of police officers had erected barriers to keep the groups separated.

In Sydney, police estimated that around 3,500 people were in attendance — 3,000 people at the Save Australia and Australia Unites demonstration and 500 and 600 at the Sovereignty Never Ceded rally.

Australian flags and tributes for Charlie Kirk

March For Australia, the group behind the late-August rallies, said they were not associated with Saturday’s demonstrations.

In Melbourne, the Save Australia and Australia Unites rallies began at state parliament around midday. Source: SBS News

Speakers across cities shared anti-vaccination, anti-immigration and anti-digital ID sentiment.

In Adelaide, a minute of silence was held for Kirk.

‘No hate, no fear’

In Melbourne, protesters chanted, “No hate, no fear, Nazis are not welcome here.”

Source: SBS News

One protester attending the Sovereignty Never Ceded protest told SBS News the demonstrations were a “wake-up call” and would educate people about the history of First Nations culture.

Victoria Police Superintendent Troy Papworth said the safety of Camp Sovereignty on Saturday was “front of mind” for the force and extra officers would be in the city, but did not reveal where they would be stationed.

Remigration is a concept associated with far-right ideologies that calls for the mass deportation of non-white immigrants.

Clashes in Melbourne

They said a 29-year-old man was arrested for “criminal damage after an alleged graffiti incident”. The man was released at the scene pending summons.

Protesters allege that at least one person was capsicum sprayed in the face by police officers in Melbourne. Source: SBS News

NSW Police said their police operation in Sydney concluded with “no significant incidents”. They said a 50-year-old man was arrested for a “breach of the peace” and escorted from the area. A drone operator was issued a warning for flying in a restricted area.