Parliamentary committee backs listing of White Australia

A parliamentary committee has backed the federal government’s decision to list the neo-Nazi group White Australia as a prohibited hate group, finding it has engaged in conduct constituting hate crimes against Australians.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) presented its report on Tuesday, concluding that White Australia met the legislative criteria for listing, that the listing had been properly made, and that there was no reason to disallow it.

White Australia — formerly known as the National Socialist Network and the European Australia Movement, and now also operating as the “White Australia Party” — was listed in May under a new framework created by the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Act 2026, passed in January.

It was the second organisation listed under the laws. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation has described the group’s ideology as grounded in racism, neo-Nazism and white supremacy.

PJCIS chair, Senator Raff Ciccone, said the committee was satisfied White Australia had engaged in hate crimes and that the listing was necessary to protect Australians from harm. “For too long, organisations like White Australia have been able to spread hate and create a pathway for others to engage in violence,” he said. “Australia will not tolerate groups that promote hatred, normalise extremist rhetoric and put the safety of Australians at risk.”