Anti-government and anti-racism protests kick off in Melbourne CBD

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12.25pm

Around 5000 gather under the Flinders Street clocks

By Carla Jaeger

Crowds gather in the Flinders Street intersection for the dual anti-racism protests.

A big crowd has formed at the anti-racism rally - as an early estimation, at least 5,000 people are gathered at the Flinders Street intersection.

A police officer told me the crowd’s been “really good” so far. The intersection of Swanston and Flinders streets has been closed due to the sheer overflow of people listening to speeches.

Speakers are now wrapping up and the crowd will begin marching up Swanston Street to the State Library. The crowd is chanting “always was, always will be Aboriginal land”.

12.16pm

Victoria a ‘ruined state’, says anti-government demonstrator

By Bianca Hall

Michelle O’Brien came to the anti-government protest with a homemade sign reading “Ditch the Bitch”, beside a photo of Premier Jacinta Allan.

Asked why she had made the sign, O’Brien said she had four children and her youngest, aged eight, would have less than her mother when she grew up.

O’Brien was particularly concerned about crime in Victoria, and new powers allowing entry onto Victorian farms to build renewable energy facilities.

“We are ruined. We are a ruined state,” O’Brien said of the premier.

12.04pm

Speeches pushed back at Spring Street due to blockades

By Bianca Hall

Speeches outside Parliament House have been delayed until 12.30pm, as people struggle to make their way into the space due to police blockades.

Police officers in Swanston Street as four different protests take place on Saturday across the CBD.

Despite that, crowds are building. About 1000 people are gathered on Spring Street, hundreds of whom are waving or wearing Australian flags.

A handful of anti-government protesters stumbled into the counter-protest at Flinders Street Station while trying to navigate the police blockades set up.

11.58am

‘Far-right extremists won’t silence us’: Anti-racism speaker

By Carla Jaeger

At the “Rally against Racism”, speakers have opened with messages of unity at the steps of Flinders Street Station.

“We love everybody, we have no division, we welcome everybody,” an organiser told those gathered.

“I can see the Blackfella flags, the pride flags, I can see flags from all over the world. We need to love each other because love conquers all.”

The “Sovereignty never ceded” rally in Melbourne’s CBD on Saturday.

There has also been a strong condemnation of the displays of violence and right-ring extremism at the “March for Australia” protest on August 31.

“We’re not going to let these right-wing, far-right extremists silence us and make us feel less worthy than we’ve already been made to feel in this country, and we will stand up,” speaker Thane Garvey told the anti-racism rally.

I’ve spotted one sign with a picture of Charlie Kirk, the far-right influencer shot dead in the US tbhis week, that reads: “A death to celebrate”.

But the majority of signs are peaceful, among them: “Teachers & staff for Palestine”, “No! To White Supremacy”, “Peace for Gaza” and “Yes to Equality Unity Peace Love”.

Protesters at the combined “Rally against Racism” and “Sovereignty never ceded” demonstrations.

11.40am

Anti-government protesters slowly gathering on parliament steps

By Bianca Hall

There’s a strong police presence outside Victoria’s Parliament House, where protesters are slowly gathering ahead of two rallies that are expected to converge at midday.

The “Save Australia” and “Australia unites against government corruption” demonstrations will both take place outside parliament. While both protests are anti-government, organisers say the groups are not connected.

Anti-government protesters gather at the corner of Bourke and Spring streets on Saturday.

Police have formed barricades and lines on the steps of Parliament House, and have blocked Spring Street along the intersection with Little Collins Street, and Bourke Street near Elizabeth Street.

Protesters are carrying Australian flags, and singing along to John Farnham’s You’re The Voice.

11.30am

Anti-racism protesters stopped and searched by police

By Carla Jaeger

At the anti-racist counter rally outside Flinders Street Station, protesters are waving LGBTQ+ flags, the Aboriginal flag and Palestine flags.

There’s an increased police presence here and a few protesters were being patted down by officers as I arrived.

“Rally against Racism” protesters at Flinders Street Station on Saturday.

Omar Ahsan, an activist and organiser, said the rally was co-ordinated in response to the “terrifying” mobilisation of neo-Nazis and far-right extremism demonstrated at the “March For Australia” rally on August 31.

“It was deeply concerning to see so many far-right people gathered together to proudly campaign against migrants, refugees, and of course culminating in the attack on Camp Sovereignty,” he said.

Ahsan said he was concerned by the large police presence today.

“It’s fairly shocking that people have been stopped and searched simply for attending a demonstration against the assault on Camp Sovereignty and [in support of] pro-migration and anti-racism,” he said.

“I’ve never seen that happen in my 20 years as an organiser and activist.”

A number of marshals in attendance declined to speak, but Ahsan said they were here to keep the protesters safe because they don’t trust police to do that.

11.13am

Lord mayor says ‘ratbags’ involved with Saturday’s protests

By Ashleigh McMillan

Melbourne’s Lord Mayor has slammed the “ratbags” who attend rallies in the city looking for conflict, as it is affecting weekend business in the CBD.

Speaking to ABC on Friday, Lord Mayor Nick Reece said while he supports the right to protest, the repeated rallies were having a “significant” impact on shopkeepers and small businesses.

“I’m sure most people coming into these protests are people with very good intentions, but there are also a lot of ratbags that are involved as well, and the collective consequence of all that protest activity is millions of Melburnians don’t get to enjoy their city,” he said.

“We’ll be trying to ensure that these groups don’t interfere with each other.”

Reece said professional crowd management methods would be used such as barriers, and those workers would attempt to “clean up” the city once protesters had dispersed.

11.06am

Traffic disruptions expected across the CBD

By Ashleigh McMillan

Major disruptions are expected for public transport in the Melbourne CBD on Saturday due to the four protests taking place along the city’s key thoroughfares.

Two protests are set to begin at 11am near Flinders Street Station, meaning traffic will potentially be stopped near the corner of Flinders and Swanston streets.

Protesters face off at the “March for Australia” rally on August 31.

Two other protests will take place on the steps of Parliament House, which could cause issues for public transport near the corner of Spring and Bourke streets.

A spokesman for Victoria Police said traffic around the city was likely to be “significantly disrupted” on Saturday.

Police are expected to close roads at their discretion if the protests move around the city.

11.06am

Police ‘sick of people punching on’ instead of protesting

By Ashleigh McMillan

Police have warned that anyone entering the Melbourne CBD intending to fight instead of protesting on Saturday will be swiftly dealt with by officers.

Four separate groups, including those who hold far-right and opposing views, will converge on the city on Saturday only a few blocks away from each other.

A police spokesman said the force had intelligence which suggested some of the groups were seeking conflict and confrontation, similar to what occurred on August 31 at the “March for Australia” rally when opposing protesters clashed.

Superintendent Troy Papworth said taunting police and attacking people based on their race was “gutless”, and those seeking violence on Saturday would be arrested.

“Everyone has a right to protest, but like the rest of our community, police are completely sick of people using protesting as a veiled excuse to punch on,” he said.

“If you are coming into the CBD on Saturday with the intention of fighting, throwing objects or abusing others, you can expect to spend some time in a police cell.”

The entirety of the Melbourne’s CBD – as well as Fitzroy Gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens – has been declared a designated area. This means officers can randomly stop and search anyone or their vehicle in the area, without a warrant or reasonable grounds. People who refuse to take off their face masks by police can be asked to leave.

11.06am

Welcome to our coverage

By Ashleigh McMillan

Thank you for joining us for our coverage of the four different rallies taking place in the Melbourne CBD on Saturday, which will likely stretch police resources

At 11am at Flinders Street Station, the “Rally against Racism” will take place to support migrants and protest the attack on Camp Sovereignty – a sacred Indigenous site in Kings Domain – by neo-Nazis after the “March for Australia” rally on August 31.

The “Sovereignty never ceded” rally will take place just across the road at the corner of Flinders and Swanston streets, and will also protest the treatment of First Nations people at Camp Sovereignty. It is part of number of rallies organised by the Blak Caucus across Australia today.

From 12pm, the “Save Australia” rally will take to the steps of Parliament House, calling for reduced immigration and an end to “government corruption”.

In advertising material, attendees were told to bring Australian flags to the event, but no other foreign flags.

Another group will also be taking to Spring Street at midday – the “Australia unites against government corruption” demonstration. The two anti-government rallies are not connected, according to social media posts from organisers.

Follow along as we bring you the latest.