Visa Cancelled Following Controversial Protest
A South African national who participated in a neo-Nazi group's demonstration outside the New South Wales Parliament House in Sydney has had his Australian visa cancelled by the federal government. Matthew Gruter, a civil engineer living in Australia with his wife, will now be forced to leave the country after his involvement in the anti-Jewish protest on Macquarie Street.
The Rally and Government Response
The protest, which occurred on 8th November, saw members of a group calling themselves 'White Australia, formerly the National Socialist Network' standing in formation while displaying a large banner that read 'Abolish the Jewish Lobby'. The demonstration lasted less than twenty minutes and was legally authorised after the group submitted the required Form 1 application, with NSW police observing but not opposing the assembly.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke made the decision to cancel Gruter's visa on Monday, more than a week after the incident. In a strongly worded statement, Burke declared: 'If you are on a visa you are a guest. If you're a citizen you're a full member of the Australian family. Like with any household, if a guest turns up to show hatred and wreck the household, they can be told it's time to go home.'
Fallout and Policy Implications
The incident has sparked significant political repercussions, with NSW Premier Chris Minns announcing a review into why police did not oppose the demonstration, particularly given that authorities had previously objected to high-profile pro-Palestinian protests in Sydney. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon attributed the failure to inform the state government in advance to a 'communication error'.
This case follows Burke's previous use of visa powers to block foreign nationals involved in 'inciting discord', including rapper Kanye West and far-right podcaster Candace Owens. The rally proceeded despite controversial new laws that came into effect in August, making it a crime to intentionally incite hatred based on race, nationality or ethno-religious background.
The state government has also revealed plans to introduce fresh legislation restricting protests outside places of worship, following the Supreme Court's striking down of previous laws that gave police expanded powers to move on protesters.
