“Victoria Police respects the right to protest; however, there is absolutely no place for antisemitic, racist or hate-based behaviour in our society and police will not tolerate such activity.”
Neo-Nazis gathering on Saturday.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui
Deakin University Associate Professor Joshua Roose, an expert in right-wing extremists, said there was limited action available to police to disperse the group, in the absence of banning face coverings or requiring protest permits.
“The group would be attempting to use this march to gain publicity for their national meeting today, build this sense of a movement, and inflate their numbers,” Roose.
“They have these snap rallies where they will show up unexpectedly in a location, often in the dead of night and then attempt to use that for online propaganda and any residual media coverage.
“In this case, they revel in being able to march through Melbourne without being arrested or intercepted by police.”
He said that while protest permits would not be needed in an ideal democracy, the “highly polarised political environment” means the government should consider them.
Thomas Sewell outside court in 2023.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui
Members of the NSN gathered before midday at a property outside a town north-west of Melbourne ahead of the group’s “national conference”.
Wearing black attire, those involved with the group stood at the end of a country laneway next to a caravan park, using binoculars and a drone to watch police and media gathered on a main road nearby.
One shirtless man, wearing a jumper adorned with a picture of Adolf Hitler tied around his waist, walked down the lane towards police alongside two other people.
He used a walkie-talkie before returning to the bigger group further down the road.
An attendee of the neo-Nazi gathering poses in a laneway on Saturday.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui
A journalist and photographer, who remained inside their vehicle, were allegedly assaulted by members of the network in the lead up to the meeting.
Police said the man and woman, who sustained minor injuries, were able to leave the area and report the matter to nearby police.
Opposition police spokesman David Southwick claimed Victoria had become the “hate state” with extremists free to march through the city and police unable to stop them.
“To see last night – police pretty much having to chaperone the protesters because they can’t arrest them – what’s that about?”
Southwick said the government needed to urgently introduce a protest permit system, as well as bolster police’s move-on powers.
“These extremists are gutless cowards. They cover their faces, hide their identities. The government promised laws to ensure that people can’t cover their faces at protests. Where are those laws now?” he said.
Saturday morning’s CBD march was led by white supremacist leader Thomas Sewell, and members of the group hoisted banners stating “White man fight back” and flew the Australian and National Socialist Network flags.
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Sewell was found guilty of attacking a Channel Nine security guard outside the network’s headquarters in March 2021. He was also jailed for 37 days after pleading guilty to a separate attack on three bushwalkers who filmed his group at the Cathedral Ranges National Park at Taggerty in May 2021.
After the firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea in December, the Victorian government announced new laws which would stop people from wearing balaclavas at protests to stamp out hateful behaviour.
Protests outside places of worship and the use of rope, glue and locks at demonstrations would also be banned under the new legislation. The bill is yet to be brought before parliament.
Premier Jacinta Allan said in a statement: “Nazis don’t belong in this country and they know it. That’s why they hide behind masks in the dark.
“I thank police who maintained the public order. It’s clear they need more powers, and we’re giving it to them.
“Our criminal anti-vilification laws come into effect next month. We will introduce powers for police to unmask cowards at protests after that. We’re not afraid of these goons – but we won’t tolerate them either.”
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