Victoria Police have confirmed two officers have been hospitalised after clashing with anti-immigration protesters and counter-protesters in Melbourne on Sunday.
Hundreds involved in a 'March for Australia' anti-mass-immigration rally were met with police and counter-protesters, and police say they were met with resistance by some counter-protesters.
In the scuffle, one police officer suffered a broken hand, another received a laceration to the leg, and rocks were pelted at police.
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Photographs of the protest also show burning flags and banners.
Speaking to media on Sunday afternoon, Victoria Police Commander Wayne Cheeseman made a point of tipping a box of several small rocks onto the floor, and then held up a larger rock he claimed were thrown at police.
"This is what was thrown at police today, and I think Melbourne has had a gutful," Cheeseman said.
"The fact was these were being thrown at police. Bottles filled with shards of glass were being thrown at the police, rotten fruit was being thrown at police, bins were put on fire, flags were on fire, and I think enough's enough."
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Cheeseman said that in the efforts to disperse the crowd, four flash bangs, two stinger balls, one rubber bullet, and 50 rounds of VKS pepper balls – similar to pepper spray – were used by police.
Cheeseman claimed those who "picked a fight" with police were only seen within the counter-protest group and not within the March for Australia group.
"The people that came to pick the fight with police are the issue-motivated groups on the left," Cheeseman said.
"I can tell you that the March for Australia group were peaceful, they were engaging, they listened to our instructions, they did what they were told, and they protested by example."
Cheeseman refused to confirm the exact number of protesters from both sides, but believed around 1000 people were present in Melbourne on Sunday.
Reports from The Age claim some witnesses heard racist conspiracy theories being shared by some in the anti-immigration rally; Cheeseman said Victoria Police had zero tolerance for racism and would investigate such claims, but said there were no reports of poor behaviour in the main protest.
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"We are certainly not tolerant of that sort of language and that rhetoric. I will say on this occasion they were good, but I'm aware of behaviours in the past," he said.
One person has been arrested for the alleged assault on the female police officer, and police believe more will follow.
Cheeseman also said three other people were hit by rocks, but there were no other reports of injuries to either police or protesters.
However, reports from The Age stated medical personnel were seen treating people who allegedly received injuries from the police flashbangs, including injuries to the chest and legs.
He said police were happy to defend people's right to protest, but said police have the right to be safe while working.
"We don't come to work to get assaulted, we don't come to work to get these rocks thrown at us, we come to work to make sure it's a safe environment for everybody, for the left, for the right, everybody," he said.
"Yet we somehow find ourselves the target of behaviour that is simply unacceptable… I can see something very serious happening, and it could happen at the drop of a hat."
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The March for Australia protesters eventually walked away from the counter-protesters after 1pm and marched along Spring St.
In Sydney, police estimated around 5000 people gathered in the CBD for an anti-immigration protest, but a counter-protest of a similar size was also mounted.
There were no reports of injuries, clashes or arrests in Sydney, with other protests and counter-protests popping up all over the country on Sunday.
Thousands gathered for an anti-immigration protest in Brisbane, with politician Bob Katter seen amongst the crowd.
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