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Controversial independent Queensland senator Fraser Anning has attended a far-right rally in Melbourne, which has seen hundreds of police descend onto St Kilda Beach in a bid to prevent violence breaking out.
Organiser of the rally Neil Erikson, who has been convicted of inciting contempt towards Muslims, thanked Mr Anning for his attendance at the event.
Mounted police have joined officers in riot gear and public response order vehicles on the beach, as anti-racism groups gathered to oppose the rally.
Officers are standing between the two groups, searching bags of anyone trying to cross police lines.
Mr Anning’s time in Federal Parliament has been tumultuous, with him leaving One Nation just hours before being sworn in to the Upper House after a spat with leader Pauline Hanson.
After a short stint as an independent, he joined Katter’s Australia Party (KAP) and was criticised for using the term “final solution” during his first speech on migration, which led to his expulsion from the party more than a week later.
On Facebook, Mr Anning said he was attending the rally to support the “Vietnamese community” being attacked by “African gangs”.
A video of the incident posted on social media showed young men playing soccer on the St Kilda foreshore around 5:30pm on December 28.
The group of activists, led by Mr Erikson, refused requests from the group and police to stop recording and a dispute broke out, during which police allege a 25-year-old man from the football-playing group assaulted an officer.
Last week’s incident prompted Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville to warn that people inciting violence would be held to account by police and the law.
“I want people to let police get on and do their job of keeping our beaches and our streets safe, which they do a great job of,” she said.
“I would encourage all people not to attempt to incite violence and cause trouble on our beaches or our streets.”
St Kilda Beach has been the subject of an increased police presence and a local council crack-down on public drinking this summer, following a number of violent incidents on the beach.
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