Antisemitic flyers falsely branded with Liberal Party logo handed out in Jewish suburb, prompting AEC review

Sky News AU

30-04-2025

The Australian Electoral Commission is reviewing the authorisation of hundreds of antisemitic pamphlets handed out in Caulfield, a prominent Jewish suburb, impersonating the Liberal Party.
The flyers, authorised by the neo-Nazi National Socialist Group, showcased a spoofed Liberal Party logo, with the Israeli flag in place of the Australian flag, alongside the words: "Giving the Jews everything they want".
The opposite side of the flyer falsely implies the Liberal Party has a fabricated "plan" to "give Jews everything they want".
"Israel First: Australia doesn't need to defend itself," the first dot point reads.
"Abolish free speech: Criticising Jews is another Holocaust.
"Jail Anti-semites: Making Jews feel safe is all that matters.
"Give Jews Free Money: Jews are doing it tough and need our charity."
The flyer is authorised by Melbourne's National Socialist Network leader, Joel Davis.
Davis is a known neo-Nazi who has been charged with displaying Nazi symbols in the past.
The flyers were also slid under the door of Caufield MP David Southwick's office.
Mr Southwick, who is Jewish, said his staff found the flyers when they arrived at work Wednesday morning.
"Enough is enough. This follows the defacement of Benson Saulo's campaign corflutes with swastikas across the electorate — including at my own home," Mr Southwick said.
"Let me be crystal clear: this is not politics. This is hate. And it has no place in our community.
"The Liberal Party is proud to stand with the Jewish community and with Israel. We will never back down in the face of antisemitism, and we will always act to ensure these cowards are not emboldened by inaction.
"We will not be silent. We will not be intimidated. And we will always call this out for what it is.
"We must act now."
The AEC noted there was an "authorisation line present" - which identified who was behind the pamphlet and confirmed it would "review that aspect".
An AEC spokesperson said the government agency had no say in the content of political messaging.
"We don't regulate what is there (no matter the issue and the depth of feeling around it)," the spokesperson said.
"We understand that the content will evoke a strong emotional reaction, but the AEC must look solely at electoral laws.
"In saying this, there may be other bodies that could have an interest under separate legislation given the nature of the content."