Tension continues to build ahead of the “March for Australia” rallies planned for 31 August, with organisers, critics, and community leaders trading claims about what the events represent. Promoted as patriotic gatherings in cities across the country, the marches are framed by supporters as a call to curb mass migration and by opponents as a flashpoint for division and extremist infiltration.
Billboards in regional Victoria, linked to One Nation, have further stirred the debate by explicitly blaming high immigration for the rental crisis. Northern Victoria MP Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, the party’s only representative in the state parliament, distanced herself from the messaging, saying while there was a housing challenge, “it was not an appropriate message” for her electorate, which depends heavily on migrant workers.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the signs as “divisive, hateful behaviour,” while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended his government’s approach, pointing to the new policy allowing first home buyers to enter the market with just a five per cent deposit from October.
Among those backing the rallies is NSW MP John Ruddick, who has called for a five-year pause on immigration. “During the pause, we can have a sober debate about what’s optimal going forward. One thing is certain—Australia’s current immigration program is way too large,” he said.
Online figures such as Aus Integrity, an account with more than 40,000 followers, insist the rallies are “for all Australians, regardless of origin, heritage, creed, religion or colour,” rejecting suggestions of racism and urging critics to withdraw their opposition.
Yet others see a different picture. Flyers and posters circulating on social media and in some suburbs have alarmed migrant communities, including Indian Australians, who feel singled out in rhetoric that reduces complex economic problems to questions of identity.
The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Australia condemned the rallies as a threat to multicultural values, urging citizens and leaders to “reject racism, xenophobia, and hate-based movements.”
Indian community leaders have spoken out too. Virendra Khatana, President of the Association of Australian Rajasthanis Inc, said: “It is deeply concerning when any particular community is singled out during protests about migration. Protests about migration should focus on policy, not people. Singling out one group only fuels division and misunderstanding.”
Sudhir Juneja of the Indian Community Centre Inc added: “This is not the first time racism is showing up its face. The Indian community’s contribution to Australia is not going unnoticed and that’s bothering many protesting. Any economy needs people to sustain and keep the economy moving forward—Indian migrants are helping in Australia’s prosperity.”
Other voices from the community echo a mix of concern and resignation. One father told The Indian Sun his son had asked whether it was safe to cross the city on the day of the rally. “I told him nothing to worry… but I will not be surprised if trouble breaks out in some pockets around the country. However, that shouldn’t stop us from going around as protest is a right,” he said.
Political movements are responding too. Within the Labor Party, members have circulated motions condemning the protests. A letter from Anil Fred, a party member and software engineer, urged branches to “reaffirm the Labor Party’s commitment to multiculturalism, diversity, and equal opportunity for all Australians” and to send “a strong message of solidarity with migrants.”
On the other side, some of the most vocal ideologues linked to the rally are framing the debate in stark terms. Historian Stephen Chavura has argued that immigration is altering the country at a fundamental level. “More Indians have come to Australia in five years than Greece in 100 years,” he said, warning that the pace of arrivals is reshaping urban centres. “Our population, the Anglo-European population in particular, is being replaced. Go to places like Parramatta or the centre of Melbourne. You see it is being replaced. It has to stop.”
His words have drawn criticism for echoing “replacement” narratives associated with past extremist movements, yet they capture the undercurrent of fear and dislocation that some organisers are seeking to channel.
Business and economic commentators, however, continue to stress structural issues. Alan Kohler, founder of the Eureka Report, said: “My complaint with immigration is not so much that 1.6 million people came here over the past four years, but that the Government neither meant that or knew it would happen.”
Former senior immigration official Abul Rizvi pointed out that the population is still “less than what it would have been had the 2019 Budget forecasts been realised.” Economist Stephen Koukoulas criticised backlash against housing policy changes, saying: “So many people railing against policy changes that give people a better opportunity to buy their first dwelling. Very odd how people like to punch down.”
Voices from within migrant communities continue to call for balance. Vinay Nair, founder of Stride Network, urged Australians to rethink the framing of the rallies. “In a world filled with uncertainty, the multicultural foundation of Australia is something we can all be proud of. When we fail to understand the complex challenges that migrants face—things like isolation and financial hardship—it creates division and pushes us to take sides.
“Instead of a rally against a specific group, imagine a gathering where we can all come together to show compassion and support for one another. We should be rallying for a stronger, more inclusive Australia, where everyone, including migrants, feels understood and valued. We are all part of this diverse society, and we should be marching together,” he said.
That tension—between calls for unity and fears of division—is what defines the debate as the rallies draw near. While organisers present them as peaceful and inclusive, critics warn that extremist voices risk hijacking the message. For migrants across the country, the stakes are personal, touching not only on economic concerns such as housing and cost of living, but also on safety and belonging.
The Indian Sun will release the results of its National Survey 2025 tomorrow, capturing readers’ views on immigration, housing, and cost of living at a time when those issues sit at the centre of public life.
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