‘Revolting’: Neo-Nazi National Socialist Network is recruiting from Geelong, groups warn

Far-right extremists are targeting Geelong in a bid to “soak up” vulnerable and disenfranchised people as part of a recruiting drive, anti-fascist leaders have warned.

National Socialist Network neo-Nazis have reportedly been targeting Geelong in an effort to recruit more people to the movement. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Far-right extremists are targeting Geelong in a bid to “soak up” vulnerable and disenfranchised people as part of a recruiting drive, anti-fascist leaders have warned.

Catherine Robertson, from the Victorian Socialists party, said neo-Nazi organisations like the National Socialist Network (NSN) are travelling to Geelong to “put the feelers out” in an effort to boost numbers.

Some of its members recently posed in front of City Hall and circulated “revolting” anti-immigration messaging on mobile app Telegram and social media.

Ms Robertson said the NSN, based in Melbourne, was expanding its network “and are organising.”

National Socialist Network leader Thomas Sewell (right) stands by his group of neo-Nazis, who have been spreading their message in Geelong. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“It is a recruiting exercise, they are basically letting people know that they are in the area for people who are attracted to these sort of politics,” she said.

“They’re looking to find the ones that do exist in places like Geelong and then trying to activate them.

“Obviously most people in Geelong are disgusted by this, but they know it might reach a few who want to join them.”

The Geelong council building incident is just one of a few troubling incidents this year of hate speech and anti-semitic symbols being plastered across the city.

Jasmine Duff, from the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (CARF), said it was “no surprise” right-wing movements were starting to recruit from Geelong.

She said the NSN had “reached a limit” of who it could influence in Melbourne and was targeting “a new audience” in the state’s second-biggest city.

“It’s part of what they do, they go out to regional areas and organise a stunt like that,” she said.

“They then put up posters, stickers or contact information so that people that might be racist in Geelong can get involved.

“That’s how they soak up new members into their group.”

A group from the Nationalist Socialist Movement poses for a photo in front of Geelong City Hall.

A Pakington St retailer, who did not want to be named, called the NSNs recent example a slap-in-the-face to what it means to live in “multicultural Geelong.”

“It’s just offensive,” she said.

“They are trying to get some traction here but I don’t think they are.”

She removed 14 posters last month promoting dangerous militant group Combat 18, who are classified as a terrorist organisation in Germany and Canada.

The NSN is an Australian neo-Nazi political organisation alleged to have formed from two far-right organisations, the Lads Society and the Antipodean Resistance, in 2020.

It’s also believed to operate out of a gym in Sunshine, in Melbourne’s west.

Ms Duff said CARF and other anti-fascist groups had attempted to have the “recruiting centre” shut down by the Brimbank City council.

A Campaign Against Racism and Fascism and Victorian Socialist rally against neo-Nazi groups. They are concerned far-right extremists are targeting regional areas like Geelong.

“It’s obviously possible that a couple of them are living in Geelong,” she said.

“I know that there’s a lot of multiculturalism in Geelong and a lot of people who don’t like that there’s Nazis coming out in the streets and who are pretty keen to do something about it.”

Anti-Defamation Commission chair, Dvir Abramovich, said the group had declared “open season” on immigrants across the state.

“Such hate-filled rhetoric ... can have deadly consequence,” Dr Abramovich said.

“Imagine the grief a Holocaust survivor in Geelong would have felt confronted with the Nazi salute, which they probably thought they would never see in their lifetime.”

It comes as uniformed members of Victoria Police recently visited businesses in Pakington St in the wake of hate messaging on the busy strip.

Leading Senior Constable Adam West told the Geelong Advertiser there was “absolutely no place at all in our society for anti-semitic or hate-based symbols and behaviour.”

Anyone with information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Originally published as ‘Revolting’: Neo-Nazi National Socialist Network is recruiting from Geelong, groups warn