Pauline Hanson speaks at anti-immigration rally in Melbourne’s CBD
On Sunday, counter-protesters had gathered at the State Library on Swanston Street to protest an earlier anti-immigration rally.
Put Australia First demonstrators gathered on Flinders Street before marching to Flagstaff Gardens.
The two rallies coincide with Victoria Police being given greater powers to conduct on-site searches for banned weapons.
The new search powers were tested outside the State Library by counterprotesters during the rally. Six police officers stopped a man in a gray hoodie to search his bag. The crowd gathered around chanted slogans: “No justice, no prohibition, no racist police.”
The man’s bag was emptied in the forecourt and he was deemed safe.
The statement says officers can search or wand search people without a warrant, search vehicles and force people to remove face masks in designated areas of the CBD, Southbank and Docklands.
Police officers used new search powers at the Unite to Counter the Far Right protest in Melbourne on Sunday.Credit: bridie smith
The expanded powers will be in effect until May 29, 2026.
During violent clashes between police and counterprotesters on October 19, police were attacked with rocks, glass bottles, and rotten fruit. Two police officers were taken to hospital.
