Police in New South Wales have charged a 31-year-old man with publicly inciting hatred following an anti-immigration rally in Sydney's CBD. The individual allegedly made a series of antisemitic remarks during an open mic session, which authorities claim were "unequivocally" aligned with neo-Nazi ideology.
Rally Details and Police Response
An estimated 2,000 people participated in the March for Australia rally in Sydney on Monday, with hundreds more joining a similar event in Melbourne. Police worked to keep these groups separate from Invasion Day rallies occurring simultaneously. During the Sydney event, a man wearing a black T-shirt featuring a Celtic cross—a known neo-Nazi symbol—and carrying an Australian flag took to the stage.
New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden stated that the man's language and presence allegedly "cited a response from the crowd, generating hate towards a particular group in our community." The suspect was stopped after his speech in Moore Park and has been charged with publicly inciting hatred on the grounds of race, causing fear. He was refused bail and will face court on Tuesday.
Neo-Nazi Connections and Symbolism
The man concluded his speech by saying "Free Joel Davis. Heil White Australia. Heil Thomas Sewell." Sewell, a former neo-Nazi leader, is currently subject to bail conditions prohibiting him from entering Melbourne's CBD due to 25 charges relating to incidents in August, including allegedly leading an attack on a sacred First Nations site.
Another speaker at the Sydney rally urged donations for Sewell's legal challenge against new federal hate speech laws, claiming $150,000 had already been raised. This speaker held a sign reading "Free Joel Davis." Davis, another known member of the now-disbanded National Socialist Network (NSN), is on remand for allegedly threatening independent federal MP Allegra Spender.
While neo-Nazis were not overtly visible at Monday's rallies, some attended in plain clothes. Guardian Australia observed several individuals wearing Nazi insignias in the crowds, including two men in Melbourne displaying the Black Sun or sonnenrad symbol. A younger man had Nordic "Futhark" runes—also used by neo-Nazis—tattooed on his leg.
Organiser Actions and Additional Events
In Sydney, organisers stated that police escorted away former NSN members they recognised from the rally. NSW police confirmed they served one person with a public safety order who was removed from the event. In Melbourne, a man distributed flyers for an online news site publishing white supremacist content at the steps of state parliament on Spring Street.
Separately, in Brisbane, a right-wing "Australia marches" event—distinct from the March for Australia rallies—featured longtime One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. The Queensland senator was greeted as a hero, with the crowd waving flags including the red ensign and chanting her name. Hanson addressed topics such as climate change, the Albanese government's anti-hate legislation, and her daughter's political ambitions in Tasmania.
The National Socialist Network (NSN), Australia's most prominent neo-Nazi movement, claimed it would disband by 18 January before new hate speech legislation could designate it as a terror group. Assistant Commissioner McFadden declined to comment on whether the charged man was a known member of the former NSN.
