Jacinta Allan blames ‘very small number’ of counter-protesters for violence at Melbourne immigration rally

<p>Victorian premier insists city is safe and police have necessary powers after two officers hospitalised on Sunday </p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/oct/20/australia-news-live-space-debris-wa-albanese-trump-meeting-labor-supermarkets-price-gouging-barnaby-joyce-nationals-coalition-sussan-ley-net-zero-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Jacinta Allan has blamed a “very small number” of counter-protesters for violent scenes in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/melbourne">Melbourne</a>’s CBD, insisting the city is safe and police have the powers they need to maintain order.</p><p>The Victorian premier’s comments come after two officers were hospitalised as police spent hours trying to seperate an anti-immigration rally, organised by March for Australia, from a counter anti-racism protest, dubbed “United Against Racism: Migrants and Refugees Are Welcome”, in the CBD on Sunday.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/20/melbourne-protests-anti-immigration-rallies-counter-protest-police-injured">Continue reading...</a>