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The Australian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Australian
‘Cowards and goons': Premier condemns neo-Nazi march through Melbourne CBD
A group of neo-Nazi protesters who marched through the Melbourne CBD have been condemned by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan as 'cowards' and 'goons', as she vowed to introduce stronger powers for police. About 100 people dressed in black face coverings from the National Socialist Network - a far-right neo-Nazi group - marched through the Bourke Street mall at 12.40am on Saturday. As the group made its way along Bourke Street several police cars drove alongside the protesters. In videos posted to social media, members of the protest group, led by white supremacist leader Thomas Sewell, can be seen waving the Australian and National Socialist Network flags and holding banners stating: 'White man fight back'. A 26-year-old man who confronted the group was allegedly assaulted and was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. According to police, the group walked to Flagstaff Gardens where they dispersed at about 1.25am. A police spokesman said no arrests were made throughout the protest, and added that 'police had a strong presence to maintain community safety and to prevent any breach of the peace'. 'Victoria Police respects the right to protest, however, there is absolutely no place for such anti-Semitic, racist or hate-based behaviour in our society and police will not tolerate such activity.' Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the march in a statement, saying: 'Nazis don't belong in this country and they know it. That's why they hide behind masks in the dark.' She also thanked officers for maintaining 'public order', and said police needed 'more powers, and we're giving it to them'. 'Our criminal Anti-Vilification laws come into effect next month,' the premier said in a statement. '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.' In a post on social media, Opposition Leader Brad Battin described the march as 'appalling'. 'This behaviour is unacceptable and does not align with the values of an inclusive, tolerant and multicultural state,' he said. Mr Battin accused the government of being 'afraid to take a stand' against anti-Semitic and racist protests and had 'lost control of our streets'. 'Protesters are now travelling from interstate to join these hateful rallies. Under the Allan Labor government, Victoria has become the hate capital - a place where this behaviour is allowed to thrive.' David Southwick, opposition spokesman for police and corrections, said that both the far-right and far-left were 'taking advantage of a weak and ineffective government'. He accused the Victorian government of failing 'to confront rising violence and extremism' across the state. Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission, described the march as a 'war parade'. 'Yesterday, Melbourne witnessed a scene that should freeze the blood of every Australian: an army of neo-Nazis marching in formation through our streets,' he said. Dr Abramovich, who led the national campaign that resulted in the banning of the Nazi swastika, salute and sale of Third Reich memorabilia, called on politicians to act. 'I call on the Prime Minister and parliament to outlaw every neo-Nazi and white-supremacist organisation operating in this country,' he said. 'These are not activists … (and) the law must recognise them for what they are – organised extremists.' Nation As Anthony Albanese meets Christopher Luxon at the weekend, Wellington's determination to tighten its ties to Australia will be front and centre. Nation Isabella Cepa was forced to flee Brazil after facing 25 years jail for 'misgendering' a powerful MP. In a world-first, she's been granted asylum in Europe to escape persecution over her stand.
ABC News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Loitering charge dropped against National Socialist Network member Thomas Sewell
A charge has been dropped against National Socialist Network member Thomas Sewell over a march through the Adelaide CBD on Australia Day. Mr Sewell, 32, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday, via telephone, where a charge of loitering was dropped by the prosecution. The 32-year-old was among 17 members of a group that was arrested after the march on the Australia Day long weekend this year. He was also previously facing a charge of displaying a Nazi symbol — but that was dropped earlier this year. Defence counsel Matthew Hopkins for Mr Sewell told the court on Thursday that the charge his client had been facing was "appropriately described as selective enforcement" and that he had been part of a "peaceful assembly". "This prosecution is a political prosecution," he said. "The charges were for an improper purpose to disrupt their political activities." Mr Sewell also appeared in court for the first time on a charge of breaching of bail on May 16 at Hindmarsh in Adelaide's western suburbs. His defence counsel flagged with the court he would be requesting the prosecution to pay their legal fees in excess of $2,000. "We haven't had the opportunity to prepare an argument, and we have attempted to negotiate reasonably with the prosecution," he said. The matter will return to court in September for an argument on costs, while the breach of bail matter will return to court next month.
7NEWS
29-05-2025
- 7NEWS
New police twist as neo-Nazi leader has symbol charge dropped in court
National Socialist Network leader Thomas Sewell has had a criminal charge dropped over his neo-Nazi group's Australia Day weekend protest. Melbourne resident Sewell, 31, was among 17 NSN members arrested after marching in Adelaide in January. On Thursday, a charge of using a Nazi symbol was withdrawn in his criminal case in the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Sewell remains charged with one count of loitering. Since the Australia day arrest, Sewell has since claimed that police wanted to kill members of his neo-Nazi group. He has published audio online that allegedly captures SAPOL officers on Australia Day joking about shooting the neo-Nazi group. 'I'm happy to shoot them,' one person said. 'Happy to?' another person asked. 'I'm happy to shoot them' the first person answered. Sewell is scheduled to return to court next week.
ABC News
29-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell has one of his charges dropped in Adelaide court
A charge of using a Nazi symbol has been dropped against National Socialist Network leader Thomas Sewell. Mr Sewell, 31, was among 17 members of a group that was arrested after marching in Adelaide over the Australia Day long weekend. He appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday, where a charge of using a Nazi symbol was withdrawn. He remains charged with one count of loitering. Mr Sewell previously told the court the arrests were "outright political persecution", and said that a non-contact clause imposed on his bail agreement was "disproportionate". Despite being granted permission to appear in court via phone, he attended in person and outside court said he intended to keep fighting "all the way to the High Court". He is scheduled to return to court next week for a pre-trial conference on the loitering charge. Another member of the group, Joel Thomas Davis, also appeared in person in the Adelaide Magistrates Court. A charge of using a Nazi symbol on Australia Day was withdrawn, while a second count of using a Nazi symbol, which is alleged to have occurred two days later, on January 28, remains. Outside court, he said he felt "vindicated" one of the charges had been withdrawn. He is next scheduled to return to court in July for a pre-trial conference. Earlier this month, Stephen Wells, who was among the group of men arrested during the Australia Day demonstration, had a charge of using a Nazi symbol dropped. The 55-year-old from Broadwater in Western Australia is no longer accused of any offending in relation to the demonstration, after a charge of loitering was withdrawn at an earlier hearing in March. Another of the men, Ethan Hendren, was convicted in his absence and discharged without further penalty for three charges, including using a Nazi symbol. He was ordered to pay a $1,080 victims of crime levy.
ABC News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Thomas Sewell given contested hearing over alleged role in Ballarat white supremacist rally
A Melbourne man who allegedly fronted a white supremacist rally in Ballarat will go to a three-day contested hearing after claiming the act could not be deemed criminal. Thomas Sewell on Tuesday faced Ballarat Magistrates Court in person for the first time, despite it being the third time his matter has been heard in court. The Melbourne man was charged with behaving in an offensive manner in a public area after allegedly leading the rally on December 3, 2023. The 32-year-old has been representing himself, and in court on Tuesday accused Victoria Police of malicious prosecution, arguing the rally was political but not criminally offensive. The court heard that during the rally, Mr Sewell — along with 25 masked supporters — was allegedly chanting, "white man, National Socialist Network", "non-whites should be deported" and "white man, fight back". Mr Sewell has argued his matter is constitutional, that he has a right to political expression, and the rallies and chanting were not criminally offensive. "I disagree with the prime minister, that doesn't make him a criminal," Mr Sewell said. "This is not offensive behaviour." A small group of masked Neo-Nazis paraded through Ballarat in 2023. ( Supplied ) Contested hearing Magistrate Letizia Torres accepted that Mr Sewell had raised his constitutional concerns to all of Australia's Attorneys-General. There has been no direction as to whether the matter will be taken away from the state and instead go to the High Court. In the meantime, a date has been set for a three-day contested hearing in October. The court heard eight witnesses will present evidence in the hearing. The witnesses include two members of the public and Victoria Police members. Hours of body-worn camera footage will also be presented to the court during the hearing. The court also heard members of the public were "distressed and outraged" and yelled at the rally to stop, and that triple-0 calls were made regarding the march. Mr Sewell will return to court for a mention in September. ABC Ballarat — local news in your inbox Get our local newsletter, delivered free each Wednesday Your information is being handled in accordance with the Email address Subscribe
