A protester was arrested by riot police after damaging an Age photographer's camera. Credit:Justin McManus But some left-wing protesters broke away from their rally outside Parliament House and circumvented the police line on Spring Street to reach right-wing demonstrators in the Carlton Gardens. Scuffles ensued and one young man was seen being repeatedly kicked and punched before police intervened, forcing the left-wing group out of the gardens and back onto the street. The group – many of whom were dressed in all black and covering their faces – then doused an Australian flag with accelerant and set it on fire before riot police moved in. One woman was detained but Fairfax Media was told a short time later she had been handed an infringement and allowed to leave.

Protesters from the True Blue Crew. Credit:Justin McManus In the chaos, one masked protester who took issue with having his picture taken damaged a Fairfax Media photographer's camera equipment. Just after 1pm – two hours after the first rally started – ugly fighting erupted on the steps of Parliament Station as right-wing protesters were being ushered towards the station by police. It is believed that at least one left-wing protester confronted the right-wingers on the steps, and fighting ensued. Protesters at the anti-racism rally at Parliament House. Credit:Justin McManus Two men, one from each rally, were forced to the ground by police and detained, while others were moved on.



Superintendent David Clayton said three people were arrested, two for assaulting each other and a third for criminal damage. The criminal damage was to the camera equipment of a Fairfax Media photographer. A True Blue Crew protester at the anti-immigration rally in Melbourne. Credit:Media Culture Those arrested were a 25-year-old female from Reservoir who was charged with assault, a 29-year-old male from Devon Meadows charged with assault, and a 24-year-old male from no fixed place of abode charged with criminal damage.

"Victoria Police are generally satisfied with the events of the protest today, however there were some breaches of the peace and some anti-social behaviour that resulted in three arrests," Superintendent Clayton said. A policeman with a protester at far-right, far-left rallies in Melbourne. Credit:Media Culture Asked about the burning of an Australian flag, he said: "Whilst it is not a very good look, and might be viewed as un-Australian, it's not an offence to burn flags." Earlier, anti-immigration protesters gathered outside the Exhibition Building, where United Patriots Front leader Blair Cottrell asked the crowd to consider this question: "Who are we? Are we cowards or conquerors?". Rise Up Australia's Daniel Nalliah also addressed the crowd, saying he was disgusted that some people had a problem with the Australian flag. "It's your problem. Tough luck," he said.

The group of about 150 right-wing protesters had marched up Nicholson Street carrying Australian flags and chanting: "Aussie pride, nationwide" and "We are taking our streets back". Police had searched them as they arrived, patting them down as they got off a bus in Albert Street. Police also conducted many bag searches of the right-wing protesters after they stepped off the bus, before they gathered in the Parliament Gardens. In the gardens they chanted slogans such as the ubiquitous "Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi." One woman carried a poster emblazoned with the words "Islamic Refugees Not Welcome Here". Another woman, when approached by The Age to comment on the rally, said the right-wing protesters were not racist. "We're not racist, we're sick of being called racist," she said. "Everyone is welcome [in Australia]. But if you come to our country we should not have to change to suit your ways. We are not thugs, we are all normal."

Down on Spring Street – on the other side of a heavily manned police line – about 200 left-wing protesters rallied to disrupt the anti-immigration march down the road. They had rallied around cries of "we've got to beat back Nazi attacks" and "Always was, always will be Aboriginal land". Vashti Kenway, from the Coalition against Racism and Fascism, said: "We want to send a clear message there are individuals and groups, hopefully of a significant amount, who support multiculturalism." Premier Daniel Andrews said on Sunday morning there would be an "unprecedented" police presence, and the government would soon give police new public order powers against people who wore masks and meant to cause harm.

There would be additional penalties and specific offences for acting violently while wearing a mask, he said. "If it's not peaceful, it's not a legitimate protest." Sunday's action marks the first time the groups have met since seven people were arrested in violent clashes in Coburg in May. Punches were thrown, kicks landed and flags used as weapons as the warring groups brawled on the Bell Street bitumen, in front of a primary school. Australian Associated Press has reported more than 400 police were at the parliament precinct to keep the peace on Sunday.

The anti-Islam True Blue Crew – which organised Sunday's rally – describes itself as pro-Australian and said on Facebook that the rally was to "display our pride in our flag and country". Campaign Against Racism and Fascism posted on Facebook after the rally: "The 'True Blue Crew' racists said they were going to rally at Parliament House and march through the streets of Melbourne. They didn't. We did." Loading Since November, there have been eight violent clashes between the warring sides.

With Benjamin Preiss and Goya Dmytryshchak