The New South Wales government is introducing amendments to criminalize neo-Nazi activity amid a crackdown on recent Australian white supremacist protests that have seen a South African activist being detained for deportation.
NSW attorney-general Michael Daley submitted a bill to the state parliament on Wednesday to amend the 1900 Crimes Act, making it an offense to publicly engage in conduct that indicates support for Nazi ideology. Support would be indicated by imagery or “characteristics” associated with Nazi ideology that would “cause a reasonable person to fear harassment, intimidation, or violence.”
Police officers may direct a person to remove a suspected Nazi symbol from display, according to the bill’s text, and make it an offense not to comply.
The 1988 Summary Offences Act would also be amended to clarify that while a person participating in authorized public assemblies may not be guilty of offenses related to unlawful assembly, they can still be guilty of other crimes while participating in a protest, such as an offense related to the demonstration’s purpose.
The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies welcomed the proposal of the legislation, explaining that they were necessary following white supremacist group White Australia’s protest against the “Jewish lobby” and hate crime laws outside the state parliament last Saturday.
“The Nazi ideology and the growth of white supremacist groups do not merely endanger communal safety and cohesion but are fundamentally subversive to the values and structures of our democracy,” the board said in a statement. “Decent people across NSW have had enough of hate groups trying to divide our community and undermine the communal cohesion Australians have long treasured.”
The Zionist Federation of Australia said on X/Twitter on Wednesday that the NSW government was taking decisive action in response to the protests outside the NSW parliament. “We cannot allow such brazen displays of antisemitism to become normalized, and everything must be done to prevent these extremist groups from being emboldened to spread their hatred,” said ZFA.
In addition to the legislation, the Australian Border Force on Monday arrested a South African member of White Australia who had participated in the protest, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. He is reportedly set to be deported.
Australian Border Force on Monday arrested a South African member of White Australia
White Australia, formerly known as the National Socialist Network, said on Telegram on Monday that the government had betrayed the nation by revoking the working visa of Matthew Gruter, a “valued member in the NSW chapter of our organization.” Gruter’s wife and newborn child have 30 days to leave the country, said the white supremacist group, and its member will be detained pending his deportation.
“Matthew’s only ‘crime,’ in the eyes of the treasonous Australian government is advocating that Australia remain a White nation and not turn into South Africa, having seen the effects himself,” said White Australia.
“It cannot be clearer that the Australian government hates White people. We will continue our fight for racial and national sovereignty, free from the rule of these traitors and parasites, and we will certainly one day welcome Matthew’s return once we have restored our nation to White greatness.”
The group also established a fundraiser to help the white nationalist and his family. The GiveSendGo fundraiser raised AUS $24,498 by Wednesday night.
White Australia had rallied with dozens of black-clad men outside the Sydney parliament building last Saturday, with a large banner proclaiming “abolish the Jewish lobby.”
The white supremacists claimed that the Jewish community had control over Australian politicians, accusing Jews of being behind a recent wave of antisemitic arson and vandalism incidents against Jewish sites. The conspiracy theory supposes that the Jewish community sought to use sympathy from the attacks to advance a law package against displaying Nazi or terrorist organization symbols or performing the Nazi salute.
White Australia had rallied with dozens of black clad men outside the Sydney parliament building last Saturday, with a large banner proclaiming "abolish the Jewish lobby."
The white supremacists claimed that the Jewish community had control over Australian politicians, accusing Jews of being behind a recent wave of antisemitic arson and vandalism incidents against Jewish sites. The conspiracy theory supposes that the Jewish community sought to use sympathy from the attacks to advance a law package against displaying Nazi or terrorist organization symbols, or performing the Nazi salute.