 NSN flag | |
| Abbreviation | NSN |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | |
| Formation | 2020; 5 years ago (2020) |
| Type | Neo-Nazi extremist organization |
| Purpose | |
| Headquarters | Victoria |
| Location | |
Leader | Thomas Sewell |
Leader | Jacob Hersant |
| Affiliations | European Australian Movement Action Zealandia |
TheNational Socialist Network (NSN) is anAustralianneo-Nazi political organisation formed from twofar-right organisations, theLads Society and theAntipodean Resistance, in 2020.[1][2] The organisation, based inMelbourne, claims to be active in allsix state capitals and several regional cities.[2][3] The group has used theprotests against COVID-19 policies[4][3] and other methods, such asmedia manipulation and attention-grabbing, to recruit new members.[5]
The organisation, whose membership is unknown, is led byThomas Sewell, neo-Nazi, convicted criminal and former Australian soldier.[1][6][7][8] The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism released a report on 5 October 2022, in which it classified the National Socialist Network as a "white nationalist", "antisemitic", and "neo-Nazi" group.[9]
In 2020, a group of NSN members inMelbourne performed aNazi salute and displayed a neo-Nazi flag atSwinburne University. A photo of the incident, shared on theirFacebook page, included a caption stating: "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".[10]
On theAustralia Day weekend in January 2021, the National Socialist Network, a new group created by members of the Antipodean Resistance and the Lads Society under the latter's leader Thomas Sewell, were observed parading Nazi paraphernalia and harassing bystanders at several locations around theGrampians National Park in Victoria. OneHalls Gap resident said: "There were 40 white males, many with skinheads, some chanting 'white power'".[11] They were reported to have chanted "sieg heil" and "white power",burnt a cross, and posted stickers saying "Australia For The White Man".[12]
Concerned citizens reported them to the police, who confronted the group and later collected video evidence from security videos.Victoria Police's Counter Terrorism Command and ASIO were notified, and the incident was widely covered in the media.[11] One antisemitism expert called for the group to be branded a terrorist group, saying, "We know that there is a direct link between incitement, between vilification … and shooting rampages that we saw not just in Christchurch, but in other places".[12]
In early January 2023, flyers belonging to the National Socialist Network were found in circulation inEast Brisbane,Queensland.[14]
On 13 January 2023, aMelbourne Magistrates Court sentenced Sewell to 150 hours of community service to be completed in 18 months.[15]
On26 January 2023, members of the NSN held a protest inCoburg, Victoria, where they displayed banners.[16]
On 18 March 2023, approximately 30 members of the NSN, including Sewell,[17] attended a rally in Melbourne in support ofBritishanti-transgender activistKellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, who spoke at the rally while visiting the city on her Australian andNew Zealand tour. Members of the NSN marched downSpring Street, displayed a banner, performed Nazi salutes on the stairs ofParliament House, and referred to transgender people aspaedophiles. Acounterprotest attended bytransgender rights protesters clashed with the group. While thepolice, including several mounted officers, attempted to separate the two groups, it was reported thatpepper spray was used at least once.[18] The events were condemned by theLabor Party,[19] theLiberal Party[20] and theGreens.[21]
On 13 May, neo-Nazi and anti-fascist groups clashed in Melbourne at an anti-immigration rally, organised by NSN.[22][23] Police made several arrests on both sides, while also deploying capsicum spray. A police officer was also hit with pepper spray.[22] Federal government ministerChris 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".[23] The rally was also condemned across both sides of the Victorian Parliament, described as "toxic bigotry and hate" and "disgraceful and cowardly".[22]
On 15 September 2023, a group of NSN activists attempted to disrupt an antifascist fundraiser at Cafe Gummo in Thornbury, Victoria. The event, hosted by MelbourneSkinheads Against Racial Prejudice, aimed to support the White Rose Society and the Black People's Union. In response, antifascist activists chased the NSN members several blocks, chanting "Nazi scum!" Witnesses reported that some of the masked NSN members were armed, although no arrests were made as individuals dispersed down side streets.[24][25] One witness toldNine News that some of the masked neo-Nazis were armed with knives.[25] Thecrowdfunding campaign raised more than $9,800.[25]
On 13 October 2023, after the candlelight vigil event for Israelis kidnapped by Hamas and ahead ofpro-Palestinian protests in the city, the group gathered outsideFlinders Street station inMelbourne, displaying an antisemitic banner at the station entrance under police surveillance; then the group members went inside the station, performingRoman salutes while going down an escalator, and boarded aWerribee Line train. While on the train they asked passengers whether they are Jewish or not, handed out NSN's "business cards" and another racist flier; they also sung theAustralian national anthem as well as a white racist anthem. After the incident, state officials including PremierJacinta Allan condemned the action and described the group as "cowardly neo-Nazis". The Victorian government subsequently passed legislation banning public displays of the Roman salute, which took effect on 21 October of the same year.[26][27]
On 3 December, around 40 members of the NSN, led by Sewell, marched through the streets ofBallarat on the 169th anniversary of theEureka Stockade. The group displayed a banner with the phrase, "Australia For The White Man" as they marched in through the city.[28] A 15-year-old boy was questioned over his use of theNazi salute in support of the group.[29] Residents condemned the march as "frightening".[29]
On 26 January 2024,Australia Day, a group of NSN members, led by Sewell, were detained byNew South Wales Police at theNorth Sydney railway station. An officer issued Sewell and his group a legal order banning them from attending any Australia Day events in theCity of Sydney, citing a risk to public safety and Sewell's history of crime and public order incidents.[30][31]
Roughly 40 members of theVictorian chapter held aflash rally in late July 2024, marching from Melbourne’sFederation Square toFlinders Street station, clad in all black and carrying a large "Mass Deportations Now" banner.Jacob Hersant was arrested for "grossly offensive public conduct".[32][33]
In the weeks following the2024 UK Riots, 70 NSN members marched through the streets ofBrisbane and posed in front of multiple landmarks whilst holding a banner which called for a "Free England".[34][35] Multiple arrests were made, with a 19-year-old Victorian man being charged with "inciting others to incite vilification".[36]
On 16 August, a large group of NSN members in Melbourne hijacked a refugee encampment that had been set up outside the office ofHome Affairs, calling for permanent visas. The NSN stood in a line with a large banner that read "Fuck Off; We're Full"[37] and chanted offensive comments.[38]
Around 50 members of NSN marched throughCorowa, NSW, protesting against the localpiggery's takeover by multinational meat processorJBS and their employment of immigrant workers. They carried a "White Man Fight Back" banner.[39]
Approximately 40 members of NSN staged a protest outside the Chinese Consulate inToorak, Melbourne, calling for theextradition of a Chinese national suspected of pouring hot coffee on a baby in a park. The protesters displayed a banner, burned portraits of the suspect,Mao Zedong,Xi Jinping, and theChinese flag.[40][41]
On 11 January 2025, members of the NSN staged a protest on Adelaide'sMorphett Street bridge, displaying a banner reading "Mass Deportations Now". Six participants were arrested and charged with wearing an article of disguise.[42][43]
On 26 January 2025,Australia Day, around 40 members of the NSN, most of whom who had travelled from other states, marched throughAdelaide city centre, dressed in black and wearing sunglasses and hats.[44] Chanting "Australia for the white man", the NSN group stood in front of theWar Memorial onNorth Terrace.South Australia Police officers arrested 16 people, including a 16-year-old boy, on charges that included loitering and displaying Nazi symbols.[45][46] Prime MinisterAnthony Albanese condemned the action of the men, as did SA PremierPeter Malinauskas.[47][48][49] Sewell and 13 other men appeared in court on 28 January, charged with a variety of offences, including carrying offensive weapons or articles of disguise,[a] and displaying Nazi symbols.[44][51] All were given bail, but Sewell said that he would not agree to the bail conditions.[44]
On 25 April 2025, prominent NSN memberJacob Hersant was escorted byVictoria Police away from anAnzac Day dawn service inMelbourne following disruptions to aWelcome to Country. The shouting by the small group of men was drowned out by applause by many in the 50,000-strong crowd, and condemned by Prime MinisterAnthony Albanese, Opposition LeaderPeter Dutton and other political leaders, as well asRSL Victoria president Robert Webster, manywar veterans,[52][53][54] andSunrise TV hostNatalie Barr.[55]
On 1 June 2025, a group of NSN members staged a racist protest outsideNorthland Shopping Centre in the early hours of the morning. The protest came after a machete brawl which took place at the shopping centre one week prior. During the protest they held a banner with the words “BanN-ers Not Machetes”. The protest was condemned by Premier Allan.[56]
On 4 August 2025, the NSN staged a protest on theKwinana Freeway, in Perth.[57]
At about 12:40am of 9 August 2025, around 100 members of the NSN, with their faces covered, marched throughMelbourne's central business district.[58][59] Concerning the march, Victorian PremierJacinta Allan stated “Nazis don’t belong in this country and they know it. That’s why they hide behind masks in the dark.” Allan further said that her government would "introduce powers for police to unmask cowards at protests".[59]
On 31 August 2025, a group of men from NSN identified as originally part of theMarch for Australia protests in Melbourne, broke away from the larger group and stormed the AboriginalCamp Sovereignty[60]. Among those caught on video carrying out the attack wasThomas Sewell.[61]
According to extremist experts, two right-wing groups, the Lads Society and Antipodean Resistance, recently helped form a new Australian extremist outfit, the National Socialist Network, which in turn helped organise the 38 young white men to assemble in the Grampians over the Australia Day weekend.
Saturday's protest followed a recent attempt by NSN members to disrupt an anti-fascist fundraiser for the White Rose Society and the Black People's Union at Cafe Gummo, a left-wing gathering place in Thornbury. Though they intended to intimidate, the handful of Nazis instead were forced to flee up High Street.
