An estimated 20,000 patriotic protesters have flooded the streets of Australia’s biggest cities to demand freedom of speech and vent their anger at the left-wing Labor government’s draconian “hate speech” and “hate group” laws.
Massive crowds of demonstrators marched through Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide on Sunday with banners reading “Stop jailing dissidents! Australians demand freedom of speech” and “defend free speech”.
In Sydney about 5,000 protesters gathered opposite Central Station to hear speeches by Independent MP Mark Latham, Libertarian MP John Ruddick, former Liberal MP Ross Cameron, priest Father Chris Yates, and organiser Brian Marlow.
“Freedom of speech is the fight of our lives,” Mr Latham said at the beginning of his speech.
Independent NSW MP Mark Latham @RealMarkLatham speaks at the free speech rally in Sydney.
“Freedom of speech is the fight of our lives”
Follow: @NoticerNews pic.twitter.com/v0IOzRhrnS
— N News (@NoticerNews) August 30, 2026
Tens of thousands of patriots are protesting against “hate speech” and “hate group” laws around Australia today – here’s some of the large crowd in Melbourne.
The banner says “Stop jailing dissidents, Australians demand freedom of speech”.
Follow: @NoticerNews pic.twitter.com/xCswyb6we2
— N News (@NoticerNews) August 30, 2026
Political prisoner Joel Davis, who spent 133 days in solitary confinement over an alleged Telegram post earlier this year, speaks at a free speech rally in Melbourne.
“They will not stop until nationalism is illegal”
Video from @TheCrypticWire livestream. pic.twitter.com/syCjYGzpEX
— N News (@NoticerNews) August 30, 2026
In Melbourne a similar number filled the streets outside Parliament House, where nationalist activist Joel Davis, who spent 133 days in solitary confinement as a political prisoner over an alleged Telegram post, addressed the crowd.
A small group of far-left extremist counter-protesters showed up with the flag of US domestic terror group Antifa but were rushed by riot police after allegedly throwing objects at officers, one of which appeared to have been injured and was assisted by colleagues.
Noticer News understands three members of the violent leftist group were arrested for allegedly assaulting police, and remain in custody.
Comedian Lisa Jane Spencer performed a satirical “welcome to country” ceremony at the Melbourne rally, after being targeted by a far-left online hate mob over a similar skit earlier this year.
“It might be the only one you don’t boo,” she said.
Auntie @LisaJaneSpencer does her own WTC at @marchforaus, Melbourne. pic.twitter.com/8s5jLTOXVY
— The Yarn (@theyarn__) August 30, 2026
Patriots turned up in Brisbane🫡🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/Smz9J9gNH9
— Ausmaxx | Andre (@Ausmaxx1) August 30, 2026
Big numbers in Perth: pic.twitter.com/HJqZ2UL3U1
— N News (@NoticerNews) August 30, 2026
BAC President Harry Richardson defends our ancient right to free speech, and our people who have earned that right.@marchforaus pic.twitter.com/BWtC8Oszzc
— British Australian Community (@Brit_Aus_Com) August 30, 2026
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An estimated 5,000 demonstrators filled the streets in Perth, while even larger numbers showed up in Brisbane, where British Australian Community president Harry Richardson and right-wing influencer Andre “Ausmaxx” Mamet made speeches.
In Adelaide police appeared to confiscate a woman’s sign for “offensive symbols”, but a photo shared by The Adelaide Set on Instagram shows it simply said “no free speech allowed” along with a raised fist and the Labor Party logo.
Protesters at all the marches chanted “Aussie Aussie Aussie” and “no speech, no democracy”, and carried signs objecting to the Labor government’s “hate speech” and prohibited hate group legislation, which has been used to ban the White Australia Party.
Header image: Left, protesters in Brisbane (Telegram). Right, protesters in Melbourne (X). Inset, Brian Marlow speaks in Sydney (Noticer News).
