https://www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-victoria-police-assaulted-protests-a...Two police officers hospitalised in Melbourne after clashing with opposing protesters
By Patrick Brischetto
4:04pm Oct 19, 2025
Hundreds involved in a 'March for Australia' anti mass-immigration rally were met with police and counter-protesters, with police forced to create a barricade between the two groups on Bourke St.
In a statement released on Sunday afternoon, police said projectiles were thrown.
"The police officers were pelted with rocks, glass bottles and fruit whilst trying to protect protestors and the broader community in the vicinity," they said.
They said one female sergeant was hospitalised with a suspected broken hand, whilst a male constable sustained a laceration to the lower leg; neither officer is in a life-threatening condition.
One person was arrested, and police say they are searching for more offenders.
"We make no apologies for officers having to use force to separate and safely disperse crowds during protests where police have been presented with an extremely volatile and violent environment," Victoria Police Commander of the North West Metro region Wayne Cheeseman said.
"Police do not attend protests with the aim of using force, but it is always in response to the actions of protestors whether it be violence between different groups, or towards officers," Cheeseman claimed.
Flash bangs used by the police
against some protesters were heard, with witnesses claiming riot police worked to push back the pro-immigration protests and disperse the crowd.
The March for Australia protesters eventually walked away from the counter-protesters after 1pm and marched along Spring St.
In Sydney, police estimated around 5000 people gathered in the CBD for an anti-immigration protest, but a counter-protest of a similar size was also mounted.
There were no reports of injuries, clashes or arrests in Sydney, with other protests and counter-protests popping up all over the country on Sunday.
Thousands gathered for an anti-immigration protest in Brisbane, with politician Bob Katter seen amongst the crowd