Neo-Nazis infiltrate March for Australia rallies

Thousands attended anti-immigration “March for Australia” rallies across Australia on Sunday, which were infiltrated by neo-Nazis in some states.

Around 5000 attended the anti-immigration rally in Melbourne, where neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell was an official speaker. Speaking from the Victorian State Parliament’s steps, Sewell stated, “We are here as Australians, proud and true and thoroughbred,” to cheers from the crowd.

Sewell claimed “his men” had led the march, with reports indicating around 150 members of the National Socialist Network (NSN) led the rally. Rebel News’ Avi Yemini and his security guards were violently attacked by neo-Nazis with footage posted online, as was the Indigenous “Camp sovereignty”.

In Melbourne, anti-immigration protesters violently clashed with the anti-Israel protesters. A pro-Palestinian protester set fire to the Australian flag, and later a Palestinian flag was burned by anti-immigration protesters. Police reported six people were arrested on Sunday.

At Sydney’s anti-immigration rally, neo-Nazis reportedly distributed flyers, addressed the crowd and led chants of “Heil Australia”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented on the rallies on the ABC on Monday saying, “I have no doubt that there would have been good people who went along, heard about a rally … [You have to] have a look at who you were with on Sunday. The motivation that they have, which isn’t actually about housing or our economy or anything else, it’s about sowing division. Neo-Nazis have no role.”

Opposition leader Sussan Ley commented the rallies were “attended by people of goodwill, but hijacked by violent neo-Nazis spouting hate and racism”.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan had condemned those who “walk with Nazis” prior to the march. On Tuesday her press conference was cut short after it was crashed by neo-Nazis including Sewell.

Victoria’s Shadow Minister for Police and Corrections David Southwick posted on Sunday, “Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell pushed his white Australian agenda and it must be called out. This is not who we are and what our flag represents.”

Australian Jewish community organisations were outraged to see the participation of neo-Nazis in the March for Australia rallies.

“The organisers who allowed known neo-Nazis to address the protest were either naïve or reckless, or else harbour a racist agenda of their own,” said Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion. “In the same way as naïve protesters against the war in Gaza have been used by extremists displaying the flags of terrorist groups and a picture of the dictator of Iran, mainstream Australians who participated in the anti-immigration protest have been used by neo-Nazis and others with an abhorrent ulterior agenda.”

Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) executive director Colin Rubenstein expressed disgust at seeing the Melbourne rally “effectively dominated by neo-Nazi groups, and even more disgusted to see that rally lead to violence, also committed by far-left and pro-Palestinian groups, across the CBD”.

He added, “It is clear, that after almost two years of the CBD being effectively shut down on weekends, and made inhospitable for Jews by pro-Palestinian mobs, the protest situation in Melbourne is getting out of hand and more action is needed by police and the state government. People have the right to protest, but authorities have the responsibility to impose time and place restrictions to preserve order, prevent violence and allow citizens to go about their normal business unhindered.”

Similarly, Zionist Federation of Australia CEO Alon Cassuto stated, “Being Jewish in Australia now means facing hate from all sides; from neo-Nazi marches to anti-Israel rallies steeped in antisemitism. These extremists are acting with impunity, and violence is spilling into our streets. Victoria is on a dangerous path. Melbourne will continue to be the extremist capital of Australia until appropriate laws are adopted and properly enforced.”