National Socialist Network

The National Socialist Network (NSN) is an Australian neo-Nazi political organisation allegedly formed from two far-right organisations, the Lads Society and the Antipodean Resistance, in 2020. The organisation, based in Melbourne, claims to be active in all six state capitals and several regional cities. The group has used the protests against COVID-19 policies and other methods, such as media manipulation and attention-grabbing, to recruit new members.

The organisation, whose membership is unknown, is led by Thomas Sewell, former ADF member, Neo-Nazi, and convicted criminal. The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) released a report on October 5, 2022, in which it classified the National Socialist Network as a "white nationalist," "antisemitic," and "neo-Nazi" group.

The National Socialist Network often collaborates with the European Australian Movement, also led by Sewell.

Activities

2020

The group, adhering to its proclaimed methods of gaining attention and membership, has had numerous physical and intentionally provocative incidents. In 2020 a group of NSN members in Melbourne did a Nazi salute with a neo-Nazi flag at Swinburne University. A photo of the salute on their Facebook page read: "NSN would like to thank the student body and faculty for letting us promote National Socialism on campus without opposition. Swinburne for the White man!" A university spokesperson responded: “Swinburne University of Technology abhors the comments, and the symbols depicted in the photograph taken on our campus. The views and ideas of groups such as this run counter to everything our university stands for, and we condemn them in the strongest possible terms.”

2021

2022

2023

In early January 2023, flyers belonging to the National Socialist Network were found in East Brisbane, Queensland.

On 13 January 2023, a Melbourne Magistrates Court sentenced Thomas Sewell to 150 hours of community service to be completed in 18 months.

On 26 January 2023, members of the NSN held a protest in Coburg, Victoria, where they displayed banners.

On 18 March 2023, approximately 30 members of the NSN, including Thomas Sewell, attended a rally in Melbourne in support of British anti-transgender activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, who spoke at the rally while visiting the city on her Australian and New Zealand tour. Members of the NSN marched down Spring Street, displayed a banner, performed Nazi salutes on the stairs of Parliament House, and referred to transgender people as paedophiles. A counterprotest in support of transgender rights, attended by many students, transgender activists, and socialists, clashed with the group. While the police, including several mounted officers, attempted to separate the two groups, there were some interactions (many of which were violent), and it was reported that pepper spray was used at least once. The events were condemned by the Labor Party, the Liberal Party and the Greens.

On 13 May Neo-Nazi and anti-fascist groups clashed in Melbourne at an anti-immigration rally, organised by NSN. Several objects including glass jars were thrown towards Sewell’s group of around 20 men, before police arrived. Police made several arrests on both sides, while also deploying capsicum spray. A police officer was also hit with pepper spray. Federal government minister Chris Bowen labelled the rally “unspeakably un-Australian”, calling the neo-Nazis who participated a “fringe of political lunatics who have no place in modern Australia”. The rally was also condemned across both sides of the Victorian Parliament, described as "toxic bigoty and hate" and "disgraceful and cowardly".

On 15 September 2023, a dozen neo-nazi antagonizers from NSN, were chased several blocks up High Street in Thornbury, by Antifa chanting, "Nazi scum! Nazi scum!", after they attempted to gatecrash an antifascist fundraiser. The event was hosted by Melbourne SHARPs, with 25% of proceeds going to Black People's Union, “in order to pay the rent and show solidarity with Indigenous sovereignty, liberation and their need for urgent mutual aid”. Witnesses said some of the masked neo-nazis were armed with knives. No arrests were made, as most involved scattered down side streets. One neo-nazi hid in the Thornbury theater for 2 hours before being evicted by security. The crowdfunding campaign has raised more than $9,800.

See also

* Australian National Socialist Party (ANSP) (1962-1968)
* National Socialist Party of Australia (NSPA) (1964-1977)
* Antipodean Resistance (2016-2018?)
* Lads Society (2017-2020?)

References

{{Neo-Nazism

2020 establishments in Australia
Organizations established in 2020
Neo-Nazi organizations
Neo-Nazism in Australia
Anti-Asian sentiment in Australia
Organizations that oppose LGBT rights