A firestorm of controversy has erupted in Australia after it was revealed that a 28-year-old air conditioner installer and avowed Adolf Hitler admirer was the organiser of a neo-Nazi rally outside the New South Wales Parliament.
The Man Behind the Mask
Sydney tradie Jack Eltis, a young father, has been identified as the leader of the National Socialist Network (NSN) in NSW. He was the driving force behind the protest on Saturday, which saw 67 men dressed in black chanting antisemitic slogans and holding a banner that read 'Abolish the Jewish Lobby'.
The demonstration, which lasted approximately seven minutes, has been met with widespread public outrage, with Australians demanding answers as to why it was permitted to proceed. Politicians are now scrambling to close the legal loopholes that gave the green light for the event.
Eltis, who openly worships Hitler and refers to Germany as the 'motherland', runs a business and has stated he refuses to serve non-white customers. He has claimed his family and friends support his role in the neo-Nazi movement, but this assertion is directly contradicted by his parents.
Family Disavowal and Political Ambitions
In a stark public rebuke last year, Eltis's parents distanced themselves from their son's extremist views after being targeted on social media. His father, Matt Eltis, wrote online: 'As some of you know, our son Jack Eltis has involved himself in a Neo Nazi organisation. None of our family condone or support this organisation. Jack is a grown adult and has made his decisions.'
This stands in sharp contrast to family photos that show a bright-eyed youth with braces, enjoying birthdays and footy matches. The imagery is a world away from the ranks of men chanting 'blood and honour' – an infamous motto of the Hitler Youth movement.
Eltis joined the NSN in 2021 and revealed that the NSW chapter has grown from just three members to nearly 100. He stated the group recruits men from all walks of life, aged 16 to 65. The NSN receives significant legal advice to carefully craft their protest permits and push the boundaries of what is legally acceptable at public rallies.
According to The Age, Eltis even travelled to Germany on a study tour to meet with a far-right group. This is part of the NSN's push to register as a political party named 'White Australia' early next year, with the explicit platform of 'racism' and 'mass deportations'. Eltis confirmed they are about 90% through the application process.
Political Fallout and Police Scrutiny
The rally has created a significant political furore. NSW Premier Chris Minns described the event as 'racist, violent, and often horrifying'. He warned that anyone who puts their name to such a neo-Nazi political party risks being publicly exposed as a racist.
Premier Minns also indicated that the NSW Electoral Commissioner has a public interest test available when determining party registration, suggesting a 'nakedly racist organisation' would be a strong candidate for rejection.
NSW Police faced severe criticism for approving the rally via a Form 1 application submitted by the White Australia group on October 28. Both Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon and Premier Minns claimed they were unaware of the protest until after it occurred.
This led to an apology from Deputy Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell, who knew about the demonstration but failed to brief his new boss. NSW Police are now monitoring the NSN’s activities in Sydney, which include regular public gatherings featuring mixed martial arts and power-lifting, as monthly meetings are a requirement for members.
