Arrests made as protesters clash at anti-immigration rallies — as it happened

That's a wrap

We are concluding our coverage of today's anti-immigration protests and counter protests. Here is a recap of what happened:

• Anti-immigration and counter protesters clashed across Australia as thousands took to the streets calling for a stop to "mass migration".
• March For Australia supporters donned Australian flags and shouted expletive-laden slogans, with neo-Nazis and right-wing politicians among those at the rallies.

• Crowds across the country were mostly non-violent but police were forced to use pepper spray to separate some pro and anti-immigration protesters.
• Police said several arrests have been made in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.

  

• Federal MP Bob Katter joined a rally in Townsville, while One Nation senators Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts attended at a rally in Canberra.
• Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell, who leads the National Socialist Network, spoke at a Melbourne rally.

Experts warn misinformation and fear fuelling division

The protest organisers have said their aim is an end to "mass immigration" and to "take our country back", with some who've spoken at today's rallies attempting to link migration with issues like cost of living and housing accessibility.

Experts told SBS News earlier this month that misinformation blaming migrants for deeper societal problems has been central to a rise in anti-immigration sentiment in Australia.

"Increasingly, we're seeing Australians fear that they're being left behind and that fear — whether real or simply perceived — is something that we cannot ignore," ANU demographer Liz Allen said.

"That loss of hope means fear can take over, and that's a very powerful emotion at the heart of anti-immigration sentiment," she said.

You can read more on the issues that have fuelled growing anti-immigration sentiment in this story by Alexandra Koster earlier this month:

— Alex Gallagher

Victoria Police arrests six, says 'violence' occurred

Six people have been arrested during the protests in Melbourne, Victoria Police said, adding that "confrontation and violence" occurred.

"Those arrested face charges which include assault police, behave in a riotous manner, attempted robbery, assault, and resist police," the police said.

Victoria Police estimated 5,000 people participated in the rallies, which saw disparate groups converge and march to various CBD locations.

Arrests made in Adelaide, but rallies held 'without major disruption'

South Australia Police said they made three arrests in Adelaide during today's rallies.

But they said that the demonstrations were held "safely and without major disruption".

According to police estimates, 15,000 people joined the protests — including both the anti-immigration rallies and the counter-protests — and were "generally well behaved".

NSW Police say one woman arrested, operation has ended with 'no significant incidents'

NSW Police has released a statement about its police operation today, after several protests throughout the CBD along with the Sydney Marathon.

Police said one woman was arrested in Hyde Park — where a pro-Palestinian protest was held — for allegedly breaching the peace, and was taken to a police station. No injuries were reported.

Hundreds of police were deployed across the city, with the deployment including officers from the Police Transport Command, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Public Order and Riot Squad, Operations Support Group, Mounted Unit, Dog Unit and PolAir.

— Alex Gallagher

Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell speaks at Melbourne rally

The Melbourne anti-immigration rally's final speaker was Thomas Sewell, a far-right extremist who leads the National Socialist Network, a neo-Nazi group.

The official March for Australia Instagram account had distanced itself from extremist figures like Sewell, who allegedly tried to claim the march as his group's event. Sewell had called the protests "our" rally on the messaging app Telegram.

A March for Australia spokesperson told SBS News earlier this month: "Attempts to hijack March For Australia for other issues, or to make it about any one group, are not in the spirit of the movement that we have taken custody of."

— Alex Gallagher

Sydney's anti-immigration rally in pictures

Thousands of people were estimated to attend the anti-immigration rally in Sydney, walking from Belmore Park near Central Station down Broadway to Victoria Park near the University of Sydney.

A counter-protest was also held in a separate part of the city, along with a weekly pro-Palestinian protest.

Here are some images from the 'March for Australia' rally:

Protesters and counter-protesters face each other in Brisbane

Anti-immigration protesters and counter-protesters have also come face-to-face in Brisbane, at Roma Street Parklands in the city's CBD.

Police formed a line between the two groups to separate them.

— Alex Gallagher

Protests converge in Melbourne

In Melbourne, anti-immigration rallies and pro-Palestinian protests converged, meeting each other on Collins Street, despite police efforts to keep the demonstrations separate.

The groups also clashed at the intersection of Bourke and Swanston streets — there have been regular pro-Palestinian protests held at the State Library on Swanston Street each week.

— Alex Gallagher

Pauline Hanson addresses crowd at Canberra rally

An apparent few hundred anti-immigration demonstrators gathered in Canberra, where One Nation leader Pauline Hanson addressed the crowd.

"If you don't love it, I'll be the first one to take you to the airport and put you on a plane," she told those in attendance. One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts also addressed the crowd.

There were also physical clashes between March for Australia protesters and demonstrators who had gathered to oppose them.

— Alex Gallagher

Anti-immigration protesters gather across the country

Anti-immigration protesters have gathered in major cities across the country as part of a series of demonstrations called March for Australia.

In some cities, including Sydney and Melbourne, anti-racism counter-protests are also taking place in response.

Welcome to the live blog

Thanks for joining our live coverage of the anti-immigration rallies taking place in major cities across Australia.

Organisers of the controversial protests have called for an end to what they describe as a government policy of "mass migration". The Australian Bureau of Statistics has questioned a flurry of social media posts ahead of the day, claiming 1,500 migrants were arriving in Australia each day. The ABS warned they were not an accurate reflection of immigration in Australia.

The government has widely condemned the demonstrations, and a large police presence is expected, with several other events happening in some capital cities at the same time. Catch up on what you need to know below:

— Alex Gallagher