A neo-Nazi group known as the White Australia party, also referred to as the National Socialist Network, has secured a hearing in Australia's High Court as it challenges its designation as an illegal hate group. The group, led by president Thomas Sewell, is arguing that the legislation used to ban it is invalid because it 'burdens the freedom of governmental and political communication'. The law was passed after the Bondi terror attack.
During the first directions hearing on Thursday, barrister and former Liberal MP Peter King represented the group. Justice Jayne Jagot dismissed an initial interlocutory application to pause the hate listing, noting an 'absence of compelling grounds' and that the group had been on notice of the listing. A further interlocutory hearing is set for early June, with the full constitutional challenge scheduled for September.
The group also seeks to register as a political party, having submitted an application to the Australian Electoral Commission—though it has been deemed invalid until it reveals the identities of at least 1,500 members for verification. A spokesperson said the group did not want to 'doxx' its supporters. While the group had planned to contest the Victorian state election in November, a change in electoral law moved the registration deadline to 1 June, which King said was 'not critical' to the case.
