One woman has been charged over violence allegedly committed by counter-protesters against the “March for Australia” rally and police in Melbourne on Oct 19.
Counter-protesters mobilised against the “March for Australia” rally, held to oppose the government’s immigration policy, allegedly arming themselves and throwing heavy rocks, glass bottles, and rotten fruit at police. Many even brought umbrellas to block police pepper spray.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the violence, calling it “unacceptable” and “not tolerated.”West Metro Commander Wayne Cheesman laid the blame on left-wing protest groups, noting the March for Australia group was peaceful.
“The people that came to pick a fight with police were the issue-motivated people on the left,” he said, adding that about 40-50 organised “hardcore protestors” tried to clash with the immigration protest while also confronting police.
A 30-year-old Brunswick woman arrested on the day has been charged with one count of resisting police and bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on May 15, 2026, Victoria Police told The Epoch Times.
In addition, two police officers were injured on Oct. 19 after both were hit by a glass bottle.
“A female sergeant aged in her early 40s from Boroondara received a serious hand injury and a male senior constable aged in his 30s from Corio received a serious laceration to his leg,” reads the statement from Victoria police.
“While both have since been released from hospital, they are set to be off work for the next few weeks.
“Instead of working on the frontline to prevent crime and keep their local communities safe, they will be recovering after having glass bottles deliberately thrown at them.”
Antifa Behind Violence in Melbourne: Academic
The violence seen in Melbourne on Oct. 19 took its cues from communist-led militant group Antifa, according to Eric Louw, a retired professor from the University of Queensland and former Marxist group organiser.
“There were social media posts in which 11 far-left groups endorsed launching an ‘anti-fascist counter-protest’ against the March for Australia event because they saw this event as organised by ‘right-wing fascists,’” Louw said, counting 11 groups who sent out a call-to-arms before the March for Australia rally.
“All of these groups endorsed or collaborated on the Oct. 19 [counter-protest] ... which was framed as a ‘united front’ against fascism and the far-right.
“This participation inherently ties them to Antifa, as the term broadly encompasses such decentralised activism.”
