Pro-Palestine protests across Australian cities attract staggering turnout
Huge numbers of pro-Palestine protesters have marched across multiple cities in Australia in one of the movement's biggest rally days to date.
Organisers say as many as 290,000 gathered in total, including 100,000 in both Sydney and Melbourne.
Organisers said up to 50,000 gathered in Brisbane's CBD following a last-minute route change.
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Protesters gather at Queens Gardens in Brisbane. Brittney Deguara
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.
Queensland senator and Greens leader Larissa Waters was part of the march and made a speech to those gathered.
"The voice of Australia is really clear, we want peace, we want sanctions on the Israeli government, we want aid to get through," she said.
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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Pro-Palestine supporters are vowing to keep fighting to protest on Brisbane's Story Bridge this weekend 9News
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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.
The protest was mostly peaceful with no major incidents, though one arrest was made after a man with an Australian flag threw insults at marchers.
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Pro-Palestine protesters march across Brisbane's Victoria Bridge. Courtney Kruk
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.
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Pro-Palestinian protesters in Melbourne on August 24, 2025. Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images
A large crowd of pro-Palestinian supporters gathered on the steps of the State Library Victoria in Melbourne. Luis Enrique Ascui
Sydney marches again
Sydneysiders also held a march today, beginning at the Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park.
High-profile protesters included Grace Tame, who addressed the crowd and journalist Antoinette Lattouf.
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Grace Tame pictured at a pro-Palestine march in Sydney today. Getty
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.
Protesters flood other major cities around the nation
Pro-Palestine protesters also to the streets of Perth in their thousands.
An estimated 20,000 people gathered in Forrest Place in the CBD for a march organised by Friends of Palestine WA.
There was also a gathering in the nation's capital, where about 2000 protesters gathered, including Independent Senator David Pocock.
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Senator David Pocock addresses protestors in Canberra today. Getty
About 15,000 people gathered in Adelaide, marching from Victoria Square and through the middle of the city.
Independent Senator Fatima Payman, who left the Labor Party over its position on the Gaza conflict, spoke to protestors in the city.
Hobart also saw a crowd of 5000 gather and march through the city.
Protesters stretched for multiple blocks as the march made its way through the CBD to Franklin Square.
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