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‘Gutless’ attack on Aboriginal site slammed

September 1, 2025

Far right protesters stormed an Indigenous camp in Melbourne on Sunday after the “March for Australia” rally in what observers have called an ‘unprovoked’ attack.

“They came armed with poles to attack a group of predominantly women at a peace camp,” co-founder of the camp Keiran Stewart-Assheton told the ABC.

Organisers said four people required medical attention, including two hospitalised with head injuries.

Camp Sovereignty was originally created in 2006 and was re-established last year. It is a burial site for the remains of Indigenous people from 38 clans.

Appalling behaviour

Victorian Police confirmed an incident took place and are still investigating what happened.

State deputy premier Ben Carroll said the incident was an appalling attack on First Nations people.

“Do these people even understand the definition of Indigenous? It means first, it means native,” Mr Carroll said.

Far right thugs attack the people at the site.

“Our Aboriginal people have been here for 65,000 years. We’re all immigrants. This was their land and we need to respect that.”

Police Minister Anthony Carbines told ABC Radio on Monday that many people were deeply distressed at what happened and that police would be “investigating the matter”.

“It’s gutless and it needs to be called out,” he said.

 

Peter Rowe

Peter Rowe leads First Nations News as Editor, with over three decades of experience across international newsrooms, digital platforms and media strategy roles. For the past 20 years, he’s worked in Australia – reporting, editing and advising on stories that shape public debate.