Neo-Nazi protester Matthew Gruter detained after visa cancelled

A South African man who took part in a neo-Nazi anti-Jewish rally outside NSW Parliament House is now in immigration detention.

Matthew Gruter was being held NSW’s Villawood Detention Centre as of Tuesday morning after his visa was cancelled.

If he chooses to leave voluntarily, he can exit Australia quickly.

But if he chooses to exercise his right of appeal, it could be a lengthy process.

Either way, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he was “confident” the action would stack up legally.

“(We’re) not only confident of our legal position, but also confident of the values of this country,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“We are a decent welcoming country, and the sort of hatred that was involved in that protest has nothing to do with Australia.”

Mr Burke confirmed the visa cancellation on Monday, saying that that visa-holders are guests in Australia, not members of the “Australian family”.

“If you are on a visa you are a guest – if you’re a citizen, you’re a full member of the Australian family,” he said.

“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.”

Mr Gruter, a civil engineer, would be deported back to his native South Africa.

He has been living in Australia with his influencer wife for about three years, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

More than 60 members of the Nationalist Socialist Network (NSN) demonstrated outside parliament shortly before 10am on Saturday November 9, holding a large sign reading “Abolish the Jewish lobby”.

Dressed in dark clothing and sunglasses, the members chanted slogans used by the Hitler Youth, captured by their own videographer.

They also spruiked offensive and anti-Semitic conspiracies and spoke out against new laws outlawing public incitement of hatred – which came into effect on August 15.

The rally created a political furore when it was revealed NSW Police had allowed the protest, but had not informed Commissioner Mal Lanyon or the government.

NSW Police said the demonstration had been given the green light, but NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon and Premier Chris Minns said they were not given a heads-up about the rally on parliament’s doorstep.

Mr Minns condemned the group, labelling their actions a “shocking display of hatred”.

“No one who lives in Sydney should have to put up with that kind of hate speech on the steps of the People’s House,” he said.

“It’s obviously … shameful that these people feel that they have the right to demonstrate in such a despicable, hateful way, spewing division and racism on the streets of Sydney.”