30-08-2025: On the 31^st of August, a “March for Australia” (MFA) will take place in multiple cities across the continent. These marches are raising only one demand: Stop Mass Immigration Now.  Along with the single demand, the accompanying cries are “It’s time to take our country back. It’s time to defend our heritage. It’s time to defend our culture.”[1] The National Socialist Network (NSN), founded by Nazi Thomas Sewell, claimed involvement and attempted to take credit for the protest – but this was denied by other organisers.[2] Some claim that Sewell is claiming that the MFA is “our public protest” as opposed to their regular actions, which include men clad in black from head to toe, and hiding their faces behind masks – apart from the march leader/s. On August 9, the NSN was seen marching through the streets of Melbourne under the cover of the night at 1am in the morning, with the lead banner stating “White Man Fight Back” followed by two Australian flags.[3] The MfA will not at all take this form, yet it is difficult to deny that members of the NSN and other fraternal individuals will be involved.

Counter demonstrations planned

Counter demonstrations to the MFA have been called by combined elements of the Antifa/Covid/identity politics/woke left. Such counter actions are slated as an attempt to physically block the MFA from marching in Melbourne,[4] Perth,[5] Canberra,[6] Brisbane[7] and Sydney.[8] This sets the scene for ugly and counter-productive street fights, where there could easily be many injuries – if the police are not able to separate them. If this occurs, the left could be set back even further, and the MfA marchers will be seen to be assaulted for no reason. MFA could then justifiably claim that the “left” is irrational, violent and incapable of civil dialogue. With the “left” claiming that the MFA is “fascist” and “Nazi”, the effect of attempted physical attacks and attempts to tear down what is likely to be hundreds of Australian flags will be a net negative, to say the least. The so called “far right” nationalists will be seen as the calm and rational ones by comparison, standing up for “Australia”. The “far left” is making a huge mistake by organising and mobilising in such counter demonstrations.

Regardless, it can hardly be denied that the real agenda of MFA is not a march for Australia, but a march for white Australia, or a march for a “whites only” Australia. To be sure, this will not be the position of perhaps 99% of participants. Alongside the NSN, a key organiser of MFA is Bec Freedom,[9] who nonetheless played a progressive role in organising resistance to the political repression of the Covid years – nonsensical and terroristic lockdowns, vaccine and facemask mandates and border closures, inter alia. Despite her positive role in the freedom movement, Bec Freedom remains a white supremacist who claims that Australian = European = White and has reportedly blocked Aboriginal flags from being flown at the “March for Australia” ! One could argue that the Aboriginal people of Australia are much more Australian than white Europeans, who only came to what is now known as Australia from 1788 onwards. In response, Triccy Van Rye, the central leader of The People’s Revolution (TPR),[10] has explicitly called out the whites only agenda of Bec Freedom. TPR was a major force in organising the Covid critical freedom movement and refuses to endorse or participate in the August 31 MFA.

Likewise, leading freedom movement YouTuber and libertarian Topher Field has angrily denied involvement or any affiliation with the MFA at all.[11] Apparently the organisers of MFA had used footage of Mr Field addressing anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne to promote August 31 without seeking his permission or even speaking to him. Mr Field also expressed dismay that Bec Freedom, with whom he had worked during the anti-vaccine mandate protests from 2020 to 2022, had turned out to be a white supremacist. As a libertarian he is not trying to say to anyone they should not attend, but he makes clear his admirable stance that he will have nothing at all to do with any suggestion of discrimination based on skin colour. To be sure, many of the marchers on August 31^st will no doubt agree, and do not want a “white Australia” to be the result of their actions. Yet, it is unfortunate that many who do march on August 31^st will have been deceived by the real organisers.

Immigration problem?

There is no doubt that the social and political problems besetting Australia are many and severe. There is a cost-of-living crisis, a housing affordability crisis, a rental crisis, a healthcare crisis, an education crisis and the nation is repeatedly hit with pollution fuelled climate disasters such as floods and bushfires. Yet immigration, and certainly not recently arrived migrants, is not the cause of any of the problems. These issues, and much else, are bound up with the perilous state of late-stage capitalism in the West. The only very partial effect that “mass” immigration may have on society now is on the level of availability of rental accommodation. And even here, there are many vacant properties in Australia owned by property investors that are not being rented out. Moreover, recently arrived migrants certainly have nothing to do with skyrocketing house prices and astronomical rents being charged for very modest apartments and share houses.

In addition, the impression of “mass immigration” is only partially true. In terms of permanent migrants – those who migrate to Australia and stay on a permanent basis – the numbers in recent years have remained about the same, or even slightly declined. In the 2024-25 period, numbers of permanent migrants into Australia has actually declined from around 190 000 to 185 000. Employer sponsored visas have increased, while visas for skilled independent migrants have been cut. Around 71% of permanent migrants in the 2024-25 period (approximately 132 000) are skilled, that is, they are already trained up in a certain profession.[12] So while the gates are still open, migration is more targeted. On its own, a yearly migration rate to Australia of even 200 000, in a country with a population of 26 million, is more than sustainable. Even if we leave aside emigration rates – the number of people leaving Australia to live overseas – the mortality rate on its own equates to around 183 000 people annually.[13] So the number of permanent migrants entering the country each year is only marginally more than those perishing from all causes. Having said this, the large-scale rollout of murderous Covid mRNA vaccines from 2020 onwards is no doubt pushing the mortality rate upwards.

There are, however, large numbers of students arriving in Australia. For example, in the 2023 financial year, the Australian federal government granted some 600 000 student visas.[14] This is a relatively large number, yet this year was a response to the previous three years of nonsensical and harmful Covid lockdowns with attendant state (!) and national border shutdowns, when international student numbers plummeted to almost zero. Now, the annual student intake is around 290 000. However, students are not permanent migrants. Some of them may stay permanently, but the majority stay in Australia for three to four years while they are studying and then return to their place of origin. Also, students are generally not the ones who are buying up multiple houses! This is done by wealthy property investors and speculators. While the large numbers of students staying temporarily may have an effect on housing availability and excess patronage of public transport, many of them also work in sometimes several jobs while they are studying, contributing to the economy.

“Palestine Only” marches

The MFA is a partial response to the mass march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge for Palestine on August 3. On this day, in the pouring rain, thousands defied the efforts of the New South Wales (NSW) police and the state Australian Labor Party (ALP) government to deny permission for the public protest. At least 100 000 people marched, with organisers claiming the real number was up to 300 000.[15] While this march was necessary given the horrific state of the Israeli state starvation siege of Gaza, the march continued the less-than-ideal political trajectory of similar protests in Australia since October 7, 2023. The so-called left leadership of the pro-Palestine movement in the West has fallen well short of what it should be. The reformist left parties have mobilised for Palestine in isolation from the Middle East, especially from neighbouring Syria and Iran. And arguably Iran is the real target of the contrived October 7 events, coordinated as they no doubt were between the top levels of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) and Hamas.[16]

The ostensible left in the West did conduct much needed organisation for the pro-Palestine movement. Yet, the politics it conducted the movement with remain divisive, spiteful, angry and at least apologetic of the terrorism of Hamas. Overall, the protests were not anti-war and were not anti-imperialist. For example, contrast the Palestine movement in the West since 2023 with the anti-Iraq war movement of 2003. Even if the movement against the Iraq war then had pacifist leanings, it was at least directed against the imperialism of the invading states – the USA, the UK and Australia. Granted, at that time the question of terrorism and Western backed Islamism was not front and centre. But its direction was clear, and it was able to win over the overwhelming majority of the working class. The pro-Palestine movement in the West today is far from being able to do something similar. For one thing, the leadership of this movement does not oppose imperialism’s constant threats of nuclear war against Russia, and some elements manifestly agree that “Putin” must be removed. One cannot be a progressive anti-war activist while remaining silent on the potential outbreak of World War III.

Yet these aspects are generally not the concern of those who will march on August 31^st. Their issue is generally that the massive pro-Palestine marches do not appear to be at all concerned about the extreme political problems facing those in Australia today – cost of living, unaffordable housing and utility bills and much else. To a large extent, this is true – the woke/culture war/Covid left does appear to be purely focused on waving Palestinian flags, while not lifting a finger to address the serious issues “at home”. This is why many on August 31^st will march waving Australian flags (or Eureka flags), as if to say to the faux left – what about us? This content therefore, is not necessarily “far right”, let alone “Nazi”. In fact, if the so-called left rabidly confront the MFA while screaming at participants that they are “far right” or “fascist”, then this may well be the result! The “far left” will lay a pathway for a “far right”. Instead of dissuading those attracted to nationalism to a more progressive political agenda, the ostensible left will in fact create the very thing it screams the most loudly about.

For a real left

Prominent anti-Nazi organiser Tom Tanuki recognises that many who are considering going to the MFA are not Nazis – but then he encourages everyone to come to the counter demonstrations to march against the “Nazi scum”.[17] Talk about creating your own bogeyman!  What is more, there is more than a touch of hypocrisy in the organising of the counter demonstrations. For example, in Sydney, the advertising poster for the counter demonstrations features a Ukrainian flag.[18] So while they shout about the MFA dubiously containing Nazis, they themselves have no qualms about politically backing Nazis in Ukraine armed by NATO! In addition, many marching in the MFA would have been real freedom fighters against vaccine mandates and lockdowns during the period of Covid terror from 2020 to 2022. And where were the so-called “anti-Nazis” and “anti-fascists”?  Almost universally, they merged with the capitalist state enforcing “Covid” dictates!  One must ask, on which side are the actual Nazis?

Instead of screaming obscenities at those who are misguided into believing that immigration is the source of their problems (which runs the real risk of driving people towards the actual far right), a real left would seek an open and public debate with their nationalist opponents. This path must be attempted first. Millions of workers can only find their way to real solutions to their political problems through a free discussion of contesting ideas. The Workers League, therefore, does not endorse either the “March for Australia” OR the MFA counter demonstrations. A better place to start is the next Worldwide Rally for Freedom scheduled for September 13, under the banner of “Australia Unites Against Government Corruption”. Certainly, genuine socialists have certain differences with some aspects of the freedom movement. However, this is at least a space which is open to all those who are able to discuss and debate differing ideas and strategies, from left to right, from anti-Nazi to “conspiracy theorist”. In the current political situation, this is a welcome relief.

Workers League

www.redfireonline.com

E: workersleague@protonmail.com

[1] www.marchforaustralia.org/about/ (27-08-2025)

[2] www.pedestrian.tv/news/august-31-marches-australia/ (27-08-2025)

[3] www.noticer.news/melbourne-national-socialist-network-nsn-march/ (27-08-2025)

[4] www.instagram.com/p/DNnDa5pxe6u/ (27-08-2025)

[5] www.instagram.com/p/DNmMHTrzQSr/ (27-08-2025)

[6] www.instagram.com/p/DNndfUexd47 (27-08-2025)

[7] www.instagram.com/p/DNmSI08SSIm/ (27-08-2025)

[8] www.facebook.com/events/1500421137781968/?post_id=1503774714113277 (27-08-2025)

[9] www.facebook.com/bec.freedom89/ (27-08-2025)

[10] www.facebook.com/tristanvanrye (27-08-2025)

[11] www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbKb-RsRbis (27-08-2025)

[12] www.visaverge.com/news/huge-update-nationwide-march-for-australia-anti-mass-immigration-rallies/ (27-08-2025)

[13] www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/deaths-australia/latest-release (27-08-2025)

[14] www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-lifts-foreign-student-cap-295000-prioritises-southeast-asia-2025-08-04/ (27-08-2025)

[15] www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-harbour-bridge-palestine-protest-live-thousands-set-to-march-for-gaza-20250803-p5mjuk.html (27-08-2025)

[16] www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-806634 (27-08-2025)

[17] www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/march-for-australia-is-not-common-sense-patriotism–its-a-nazi-led-mobilisation,20084 (27-08-2025)

[18] Ibid, 8.

Image: A Toyota Landcruiser ute adorned with Australian flags in preparation for the August 31 “March for Australia”.  http://www.facebook.com