Pro-Palestine protests across Australia attract staggering turnout

Pro-Palestine protests across Australia attract staggering turnout
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Hundreds of thousands of pro-Palestine protesters have marched across multiple cities in Australia in one of the movement's biggest rally days to date.

Up to 50,000 have gathered in Brisbane's CBD for a pro-Palestine rally following a last-minute route change.

Organisers initially claimed 7000 people would take part in the protest, which began in Queens Park, continued across the Victoria Bridge and ended in Musgrave Park.

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Protesters gather at Queens Gardens in Brisbane. 24/8/2025

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The rally closed roads across the Queensland capital.

Protesters initially attempted to close down Brisbane's Story Bridge for today's rally, however Queensland's chief magistrate ruled the protest posed a significant risk to public safety.

Organisers then vowed to take a different route after the court blocked the Story Bridge plan.

Today's group was knocked back from being allowed to protest on the Story Bridge earlier this week.

Police took court action to block the demonstration.

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They cited concerns about being able to provide enough staff to police the route at short notice, disruption to emergency service routes and access to major hospitals, and increased traffic due to the Brisbane Lions AFL match.

Up to 10,000 people were initially expected to join.

"Peaceful assembly is not unlawful," Justice for Palestine spokesperson Remah Naji said.

There was also a protest march in Cairns in the northern part of Queensland.

Pro-Palestine protesters march across Brisbane's Victoria Bridge.

Melbourne rally attracts up to 100,000

Meanwhile, thousands of people in Melbourne also marched in solidarity with Palestine.

Organisers claimed up to 100,000 people took part in the march, which began today outside the State Library in Melbourne's CBD. 

Today's rally in Melbourne was the 97th consecutive pro-Palestine rally in the city.

A small police presence stood on the corner of Swanston and Lonsdale streets, tasked with preparing for the march through the CBD of Melbourne, but there were no reports of major incidents from the march.

A large crowd of pro-Palestinian supporters gathered on the steps of the State Library Victoria in Melbourne on Sunday, August 24, 2025, as part of a nationwide day of action. Prior to the march, independent senator Lidia Thorpe addressed the crowd, amplifying their message of solidarity with the Palestinian people. The demonstration, organized by groups including Free Palestine Melbourne, was one of many rallies held across Australia to demand an end to the "starvation and genocide in Gaza," an

Protesters flood Hobart

Tasmanian pro-Palestine protesters have taken to the streets of Hobart in the thousands.

The crowd has swelled to close to 10,000 people, according to Students for Palestine, though this figure was later revised to 5000.

Protesters stretched for multiple blocks as the march made its way through the CBD to Franklin Square.

Sydney marches again

Sydneysiders are also holding a march from 1pm, beginning at the Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park.

High-profile protesters including Grace Tame and journalist Antoinette Lattouf are expected to attend.

Protesters in Sydney shut down the famous Harbour Bridge on August 3 after a successful fight against the state government to access the route.

Around 100,000 people joined the pro-Palestine march, which marked the first time protesters had walked across the bridge.

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