Controversy around a series of planned ‘Put Australia First’ rallies intensified overnight when Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price confirmed she would no longer headline the Sydney event. The Liberal backbencher had promoted her appearance on social media on Friday, praising organisers who oppose “mass immigration”, but deleted the posts less than 24 hours later after media enquiries highlighted the participation of British far-right campaigner Tommy Robinson.
Robinson—founder of the English Defence League and convicted of multiple public-order offences—is expected to deliver a pre-recorded video address. Organisers Monica Smit and others from the pandemic-era ‘freedom’ movement are staging rallies in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on 29 November. They insist neo-Nazi groups will be unwelcome, distancing the events from violent August protests that drew extremist participants.
![Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price withdraws from ‘Put Australia First’ anti-immigration rallies after link to UK activist Tommy Robinson]()
Price’s office cited “personal commitments”, but political observers note her recent demotion from the Coalition frontbench after unsubstantiated claims that Labor’s migration policy targeted specific ethnic groups. The back-flip underscores the sensitivity of immigration rhetoric amid rising public concern over housing and population growth.
For mobility stakeholders, the incident is a reminder that immigration remains a flashpoint in Australian politics. While the rallies are unlikely to alter policy settings, they may amplify public debate ahead of the Government’s migration strategy review due in December. Companies moving staff to Australia should monitor community sentiment in case of protest-related disruptions in CBD areas at month-end.
Law-enforcement agencies are assessing permit requests; visa experts say Robinson himself would almost certainly be refused entry, hence the video workaround. The episode may reignite calls for stronger character-test provisions and social-media transparency for event organisers.
Robinson—founder of the English Defence League and convicted of multiple public-order offences—is expected to deliver a pre-recorded video address. Organisers Monica Smit and others from the pandemic-era ‘freedom’ movement are staging rallies in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on 29 November. They insist neo-Nazi groups will be unwelcome, distancing the events from violent August protests that drew extremist participants.
Price’s office cited “personal commitments”, but political observers note her recent demotion from the Coalition frontbench after unsubstantiated claims that Labor’s migration policy targeted specific ethnic groups. The back-flip underscores the sensitivity of immigration rhetoric amid rising public concern over housing and population growth.
For mobility stakeholders, the incident is a reminder that immigration remains a flashpoint in Australian politics. While the rallies are unlikely to alter policy settings, they may amplify public debate ahead of the Government’s migration strategy review due in December. Companies moving staff to Australia should monitor community sentiment in case of protest-related disruptions in CBD areas at month-end.
Law-enforcement agencies are assessing permit requests; visa experts say Robinson himself would almost certainly be refused entry, hence the video workaround. The episode may reignite calls for stronger character-test provisions and social-media transparency for event organisers.
