TASMANIA police had up to 60 officers at its disposal during an anti-Islam rally in Hobart on Sunday, in the wake of violent protests in Melbourne.
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But police and counter-protesters far outnumbered those attending the rally organised by the United Patriots Front.
A group of 20 UPF members gathered in Franklin Square and marched to the ABC roundabout in protest to the spread of ‘‘Islamism’’ and ‘‘left-wing treason’’.
They were joined by about 100 anti-racism protesters, and 25 police officers, including the public order response team.
While abuse was exchanged between both groups, only one scuffle occurred.
Organisers from UPF, who did not wish to be named, said they feared the spread of extreme Islamic groups in Australia.
The man leading the rally, who was wearing an ‘‘ISIS Hunting Team’’ jumper, said the group also had a message for the ABC.
‘‘Stop appeasing the left, and get some balance in your programs, you are too far left,’’ he said.
He said the group originally expected 200 people to attend the rally.
‘‘It’s not the size of the group, it’s who’s got the truth,’’ he said.
The violent clashes between Reclaim Australia supporters and anti-racism protesters in Melbourne on Saturday had Tasmania Police on full alert.
Acting Inspector Philippa Burk said she was pleased with the behaviour of the crowd.
‘‘After seeing the publicity from the mainland states that obviously caused concern for my officers here in Tasmania,’’ Inspector Burk said.
Meanwhile, at similar rallies held elsewhere on Sunday the mood was at times aggressive but did not reach the level of violence witnessed in Melbourne on Saturday.
Five people were arrested in Sydney and two people were injured when more than 150 Reclaim Australia protesters marched in Martin Place in Sydney, some wearing ancient Greek army costumes and others with Australian flags draped over their shoulders.
George Jameson, rallying with Reclaim Australia in a replica Spartan military outfit, said they weren’t racists and had come together to stand for freedom of speech.
‘‘Both my parents are immigrants,’’ he said. ‘‘They both came from the former Yugoslav Republic, how can I be a racist? I’m a first-gen Aussie.
‘‘I’m [here] for freedom of speech and democracy.’’
Police separated the group from a loud counter-protest gathering, whose members waved banners with the words ‘‘no Racism, no Islamophobia’’.
People were nearly trampled in Perth as police kicked out numerous protesters from the Rally Against Racism group.
The group shouted ‘‘Muslims are welcome, racists are not’’ through megaphones as they battled with the Reclaim Australia protesters to drown each other out with chants and speeches.
Two dozen police officers on foot and horse maintained a human barrier between the groups.
In Canberra, about 200 anti-racism protesters outnumbered about 50 people marching for Reclaim Australia, with the first group marching to federal Parliament while chanting ‘‘racist scum off our streets’’.
Despite the heated tensions, there were no reports of arrests at the Queensland rallies.
Pauline Hanson spoke against radical Islam at a demonstration in Toowoomba and other rallies were held at Mackay, Brisbane, Rockhampton, Gold Coast, Cairns and the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.