Neo-nazi group National Socialist Network disbanding ahead of new hate speech laws being introduced
Neo-nazi group the National Socialist Network has announced it will disband ahead of the introduction of new hate speech laws to avoid members being arrested and charged.
Under the proposed laws, flagged on Monday by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, it would be an offence to publicly promote or incite racial hatred
Offenders face five years behind bars if they promote or incite hatred against another person or group because of race, colour or national or ethnic origin.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Disseminating ideas of superiority over or hatred of another person or group because of their race, colour or national and ethnic origin is also an offence.
And, it would be an offence if “the conduct would, in all the circumstances, cause a reasonable person who is the target, or a member of the target group, to be intimidated, to fear harassment or violence, or to fear for their safety,” the draft legislation states.
In a post on Telegram, the Network said it would be “fully disbanded” before 11.59pm on Sunday.
“The disbandment includes not only the National Socialist Network, but its co-projects White Australia, the European Australian Movement and the White Australia Party,” the statement reads.
“If the laws pass, there will no way to avoid the organisation being banned. The legislation allows the government to ban any organisation that has given Roman salutes in the past.
“The disbandment is being done before the laws take effect to avoid former members of the organisations from being arrested and charged.“These are some of the most draconian laws the West has ever seen. In Australia, political freedom is effectively dead and buried. The Australian government, on behalf of the Jewish lobby, is criminalising peaceful opposition groups based on their political expression.“Blood and Honour.”
The statement was signed by Thomas Sewell, Jacob Hersant, Jack Eltis, Timothy Lutze, Gabe Seymour, Hagen Palme and Joshua Leverington.
On Monday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke singled out the Network and Hizb ut-Tahrir as targets of new laws.
“There have been organisations which have played a game for a long time in keeping themselves just below the legal threshold,” Mr Burke said.
“They were called out last year by Mike Burgess, the director-general of ASIO, for the real harm they do to our national security.
“The two groups he called out specifically were the Nazis, the National Socialist Network, and Hizb ut-Tahrir.
“We have had enough of organisations that hate Australia, playing games with Australian law.”
— with AAP
