Australia Cancels Visa for South African Who Attended Neo-Nazi Rally

The Albanese government has cancelled the visa of a South African man who attended a neo-Nazi rally outside the New South Wales (NSW) Parliament, saying Australia will not tolerate foreign nationals who fuel hatred or undermine social cohesion.

Matthew Gruter was taken to immigration detention at 4 a.m. on Nov. 18 after being identified among about 60 black-clad demonstrators who gathered on Nov. 8, displaying anti-Jewish slogans and chanting Hitler Youth-style phrases.

He now faces imminent removal from Australia.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke defended the swift action, saying visa-holders stay in the country on the expectation they act lawfully and responsibly.

“If someone turns up for the purposes of just abusing people and wrecking the place and damaging the cohesion, you can ask them to leave,” Burke said. “Australia has asked them to leave.”

Because Burke exercised ministerial discretion, Gruter has limited avenues of review and is expected to be deported quickly unless he departs voluntarily.

When contacted by The Epoch Times, a Home Affairs spokesperson declined to comment on Gruter’s case directly but said the government was “committed to protecting the Australian community from the risk of harm posed by non-citizens who engage in criminal conduct or behaviour of concern.”

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said she was totally opposed to neo-Nazis.

“If they come under the hate laws, well, then they shouldn’t be allowed to do it, regardless of whether neo-Nazis or whether they’re from different religions or different cultural backgrounds are spreading the hate on their streets. We don’t want it here, either one,” she told ABC news.

But United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet warned the decision raised free-speech concerns, arguing that “eventually the same power and attitude will be turned against you for your views.”

Fresh Calls to Curb Hate Protests

The rally has compelled NSW authorities to crack down on extremist activity near religious sites.

NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley said revised laws would allow police to move on protesters who obstruct or intimidate people entering or leaving places of worship.

“It is not acceptable that someone is harassed or intimidated simply for attending their church, synagogue, temple or mosque,” Daley said.

The push comes after an earlier set of emergency protections rushed through Parliament in February were struck down by the Supreme Court in October for being too broad.

Possible New Limits on Nazi Symbols 

The Minns government is also considering extending existing bans on Nazi symbols to cover slogans and chants used by groups such as the National Socialist Network.

Officials are examining whether police need stronger powers to prevent white-nationalist rallies from being authorised in the first place, following a series of high-profile incidents in Sydney and Melbourne earlier this year.

The debate follows a spike in anti-Semitic graffiti, harassment and arson attacks since October, prompting Jewish community leaders to call for stronger protections and faster enforcement.

Earlier, NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the Liberal Party was ready to work cooperatively on any further changes to hate-speech and protest laws.

He said the strengthened provisions would ultimately need to be tested in the courts, and backed comments from Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-Chief Executive Alex Ryvchin, who has described Nazism as a “national security threat.”

AAP contributed to this article.