It has been more than a month since thousands took to the streets on August 31 for the so-called “March for Australia,” a rally many participants claimed was simply about preserving Aussie values.
Yet the aftermath has continued to echo across Victoria, exposing a dangerous undercurrent—one that could see future gatherings spiral into openly white nationalist spectacles.
Unlike most jurisdictions, Victoria does not require permits for protests. The City of Melbourne confirms it does not regulate or issue approvals for demonstrations, rallies or vigils, emphasising that public protest is considered a protected right.
That open access has left public spaces vulnerable to manipulation by extremist groups.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush, who took office on 27 June 2025, publicly acknowledged that “there’s too much crime out there” and that Victorians feel less safe. Yet he has remained firm on one point: he does not support protest permit requirements. “People should be free to protest,” he told the Herald Sun.
At the August rally, Neo-Nazi figure Thomas Sewell, a New Zealander, openly participated and addressed crowds from the steps of Parliament House. He later led the violent attack on Camp Sovereignty, a First Nations community encampment in Melbourne. While initial reports indicated he was able to “walk away freely,” Sewell was arrested on 2 September in connection with the assault and has since been charged with multiple offences.
The sequence of events has sparked ongoing questions about whether Victoria’s lack of a protest permit system leaves the public exposed to extremist groups who can claim space under the broad banner of “free speech.”
For immigrant communities, the impact was immediate and personal. One Mr Nabir, who requested anonymity for fear of being targeted, said he had been meant to host a social gathering for his company in the CBD but cancelled after the march.
“Given the events of this Sunday the 31st, I don’t think it’s wise for me to organize a gathering close to/around the CBD on the weekend,” he said. He added: “given that I am an immigrant (as well as many others in the company’s community) I personally don’t fully feel comfortable travelling into the city at this point unless absolutely necessary.”
In a state already grappling with rising hate crimes and public anxiety, the August rally remains a stark reminder of the risks posed by extremist groups when protest laws are left unchecked. With Melbourne’s ongoing push to revitalise the CBD through tourism and business, the question of how to balance free speech with public safety is only becoming more urgent.
Valentina Lovell is a contributor through the Back Cover Youth Creatives Training Hub, which provides young people with opportunities to learn and publish their work in journalism and media.
