Police deployed capsicum spray as violent scuffles broke out between two opposing protest groups at an anti-mosque demonstration in Bendigo on Saturday afternoon.
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About 200 people gathered in the central Victorian town for a protest organised by the United Patriots Front, where they were met with equal numbers from left-wing groups including No Room For Racism and the Socialist Alternative.
A huge police presence, including a mounted unit, locked down large areas of the regional town in anticipation of the groups coming together.
The anti-Islam demonstration was organised as part of a vocal campaign to stop a mosque from being built in Bendigo. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Council recently dismissed an appeal against the project.
Police set up a barricade around Bendigo Town Hall for the anti-mosque protest at 2pm, as the No Room For Racism group gathered outside chanting and playing music.
The groups tried to clash on several occasions, including at the Hargreaves Street Mall, but were met with large police numbers.
At one point, protesters came together when a flag was burned by the anti-racist demonstrators. Police used capsicum spray on the anti-Islam protesters who were trying to get across the police line.
Speaking out against the mosque and Islam were several leaders from the right-wing United Patriots Front, as well as Go Back To Where You Come From star Kim Vuga.
The lead objector against the mosque, Julie Hoskin, spoke in front of the crowd and said the majority of people in Bendigo opposed the mosque.
She accused the council and "complicit media" of trying to convince residents that most people in the town supported the mosque.
"We are local and we are vocal and we don't want a mosque in Bendigo," she said.
Many of the anti-Islam speakers were not from Bendigo but when they asked how many people in the crowd were from the area a large amount put their hand up.
Several protesters on both sides wore masks to hide their identity.
The anti-Islam demonstrators carried Australian flags and protest signs, including one that said "Say no to the Islamisation of Bendigo". Another said the local council was "sacrificing Bendigo to Islam for their own greed".
Controversial Bendigo Councillor Elise Chapman, who has been a vocal opponent of the mosque, was in the crowd wearing an Australian flag.
United Patriots Front leader Blair Cottrell was seen washing his eyes out with water after police deployed the capsicum spray.
In his speech, Mr Cottrell lashed his opponents from the anti-racist protests as "losers, renegades and traitors". The UPF have been engaged in ongoing street battles with left-wing groups, including outside State Parliament last month.
The anti-racist group at one point played Khe Sanh by Cold Chisel, a reference to Jimmy Barnes asking right-wing group Reclaim Australia not to play his songs.
The rally broke up at about 4pm. Police remained on high alert after the protest in preparation any subsequent clashes. There were no arrests.
