Police keep rival groups apart at Melbourne CBD immigration rallies

Anti-immigration demonstrators took to the streets of Melbourne's CBD, calling on the government to "shut the gates", while counter-protesters also gathered in the city.

Police were on high alert as the two groups moved through the central city. According to the report, there were small outbreaks of violence, and one person was charged over an assault.

Despite those incidents, officers largely succeeded in keeping the opposing sides apart.

The source report gave no details on crowd numbers, the exact routes taken, the identity of the person charged or the nature of the alleged assault.