Anti-Islam protesters turned on each other at a rally in Melton on Sunday.
Fights broke out among the 100 or so protesters which included members of far-right groups True Blue Crew, Sons of Odin and the United Patriots Front.
Police moved quickly to separate the fighters.
The rally had been staged to protest what the groups say is the Islamisation of Australia, after a mosque and an Islamic school were given the go-ahead at Melton, and claims that a 75-lot residential development in Melton South was ‘a Muslim housing estate’.
Melton council has denied the plans represent a faith-based development.
The protesters, their faces covered by masks and flags, chanted “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie”, while carrying placards that read ‘SOS, Save our Suburbs’, ‘Say No To Sharia’ and ‘#StraightLivesMatter’.
United Patriots Front leader Blair Cottrell spoke on behalf of his group at the rally, claiming the anti-Islam movement will flourish “because it lives inside of you, it’s part of your spirit”.
“You media journalists, when you slander me as a neo-Nazi, right-wing extremist – I don’t fall over and stay quiet like you want me to,” Mr Cottrell said. “Because, as an Aussie, when I get hit, I’m used to hitting back.
“In the future, we won’t be regarded as atheists or Catholics or left-wing or right-wing – you’re either Australian or you’re a bloody enemy, and you can get out.”
True Blue Crew member Joel told
Star Weekly on Monday his group couldn’t allow “peaceful Muslims” to get in the way of his group “speaking the truth”.
He said the protest groups were not opposed to Muslims, but to the Islamic ideology.
“I’m well aware many Muslims want to live the Australian way of life … and they don’t listen to the whole ideology, the legal side of things, the governmental side of things,” Joel said.
Asked whether he witnessed any problems or radical behaviour in Melton, Joel said: “Not as yet.”
“But we don’t want Melton becoming like Lakemba [in Sydney].”
Joel said the fight between protesters was “a personal issue”.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Natalie Webster said police were pleased with the behaviour of protesters.
“With no incidents, injuries or arrests taking place, police would like to thank the local community for their understanding,” Ms Webster said.
