White supremacists gather outside Melbourne shopping centre

The incident took place in the early hours of Sunday morning at Northland Shopping Centre, just a week after a violent brawl broke out between rival gangs at the complex.

A group of white supremacists have gathered outside a busy shopping centre in Melbourne.

The incident took place in the early hours of Sunday morning at Northland Shopping Centre, only a week after a violent brawl broke out between rival gangs at the complex.

Model and diversity advocate Jeff Kissubi posted an image of the shocking scene to Instagram, saying it highlighted “Australia’s racism problem”.

The images showed the group holding signs and chanted racist slogans.

Mr Kissubi said there were “no police in sight” at the shopping centre.

Victoria Police confirmed it was investigating an “offensive banner” outside a Preston shopping centre.

"Australia has a racism problem". Picture: Instagram

“There is absolutely no place for antisemitic, racist or hate-based behaviour in our society and police will not tolerate such activity,” police added.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen said the behaviour had “no place” in Australia, describing it as “hateful” and “extremist”.

A fight at the centre last week. Picture: X

“This is disgusting behaviour by a group of cowards who seek to do nothing more than intimidate and spread hatred – we will not stand for it,” she told The Guardian.

The latest incident comes a week after a brawl broke out at the centre on May 25.

Crowds fled the area after a fight in the food court, that left a young man with serious head injuries.

That incident prompted the state government to bring forward a ban on the sale of machetes.

“In Victoria, community safety comes first. We must never let places we meet become places we fear,” Ms Allan said on Monday.

“I hate these knives, and I will keep introducing as many laws as it takes to get them off our streets, out of our shops and out of our lives.”