1 month ago
15
January 26, 2026 — 6:14pm
Anthony Albanese delivered a forceful Australia Day message to new citizens, warning that respect for democracy and shared values is not optional, in a major speech delivered in the aftermath of the Islamic State-inspired Bondi terror attack and amid an increasingly heated national debate over immigration.
At the national citizenship ceremony in Canberra, the prime minister diverted from his prepared remarks to tell new Australians: “It’s the respect for our common humanity that defines Australia. Hope, not fear, optimism, not negativity, and indeed, unity, not division – that is the Australia of 2026 that you are pledging to be a part of.”
Quoting former Labor prime minister Ben Chifley, he said migrants had arrived in a country where “democracy is not just a platitude, but something which is practised”.
Albanese framed citizenship as a civic obligation rather than a cultural badge, saying: “Whether we are Australian by birth or by choice, we all share the opportunity, the privilege and also the responsibility of being part of something quite extraordinary.”
His speech came as Australia’s capital cities erupted with Invasion Day protests and March for Australia rallies, highlighting deep divisions over race, immigration and national identity. In Brisbane, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson used her time at the March for Australia rally to attack migration policies, dismiss climate change, and position herself as the defender of “true” Australian values.
In Sydney, a 31-year-old man was arrested under NSW hate speech laws after he made antisemitic remarks while addressing crowds at the March for Australia rally in Moore Park, before repeating old conspiracy slurs and saying “heil white Australia and heil Thomas Sewell”, a prominent neo-Nazi.
NSW Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said, “we will allege that the language that was used during this open mic session breached, well and truly, the line of free speech to incite hatred towards another group of the community”.
Some of the March for Australia crowd repeatedly chanted “Free Joel Davis”, referring to the neo-Nazi leader. Davis is on remand after he was charged over a Telegram message in which he encouraged followers to “rhetorically rape” Wentworth MP Allegra Spender.
In Melbourne, a brawl broke out near Parliament Station following the March for Australia rally, with two young men throwing punches before one was restrained in a headlock and kicked in the face with steel-capped boots.
Shortly afterwards, rally-goers clashed with a family of Invasion Day protesters, including a male holding a young child, before police intervened.
Anti-immigration rally-goers chanted “send them back” and “Albo must go”. Among the speakers was extreme-right influencer Hugo Lennon, who told the crowd he was “not sorry for being white”, drawing cries of “heil Hugo” from some in the audience.
In Brisbane, Hanson addressed a large rally at the city’s botanic gardens, sharpening her attack on immigration, climate policy and the major parties as One Nation support climbs in the polls. She dismissed the heat as not being caused by “that climate change rubbish”, before attacking the government on migration levels.
“You’re the one who created this mess, you’re the one who brought all these people into the country – 1560 a day, that’s how many are coming in,” she said, she said, probably quoting an ABS international arrivals and departures statistic that the bureau itself says should not be used for immigration. Waving a large Australian flag, Hanson urged supporters to join One Nation, as volunteers circulated, handing out pamphlets.
“They’re only the polls, but they are showing an indication that you are wanting to vote One Nation,” she said. She also condemned foreign lobbying of the federal government, saying she was “disgusted” by politicians she believed put overseas interests ahead of voters.
“You know what Don Chipp said? He said, ‘I’m going to keep the bastards honest.’ Well, I’ll tell you what, mate, I intend to get rid of the bastards,” she said.
The debate over migration and values is also sharpening inside the Coalition, with the former opposition flagging plans to revive discussions about testing migrants for Australian values.
Liberal leadership aspirant Andrew Hastie attended a citizenship ceremony in Perth after months of calling for lower migration levels. Asked whether there was a conflict between his stance on migration and his participation, Hastie said Australia wanted to attract people who believed in its values.
“I think Australia is a country that is welcoming. We want people to come here and settle in this country, but they have to sign up to what the prime minister called the Australian covenant,” he said.
“And that means you support our fundamental values of mateship, fairness, and democratic freedoms.
“And we’ve seen very recently that there are people in this country who not only don’t support those values, but they’re willing to use violence. That’s why migration is so important as a policy. We’ve got to get numbers right. But it’s also who we bring into this country that matters.”
In Sydney, Hanson was the target of chants at Invasion Day protests, where demonstrators urged young people to “mobilise to fight Pauline”, as polling showed One Nation support at record highs.
Liberal leader Sussan Ley celebrated Australia Day in the NSW town of Corowa in her electorate of Farrer, where her tributes emphasised mateship confronting natural disasters, rather the immigration.
with Julius Dennis and Patrick Begley
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
