National Party probe targets fascists recruited to its ranks
A NATIONALS dossier obtained by The Daily Telegraph reveals how more than 35 members in NSW are under investigation for their links to white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups.
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The leader of The Nationals has promised to remove extremists from his party after the Daily Telegraph revealed dozens of members were under investigation for ties to white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups.
“The Nationals will not tolerate extremism or the politics of hate,” Mr McCormack said today.
“People found to engage with such radicalism are not welcome in our party. We are a grassroots party proudly championing what matters most to our regional and rural communities – always has been, always will be.”
The Daily Telegraph revealed The Nationals are investigating at least 35 NSW members, including at senior levels, for their links to white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups.
The party is in crisis over the unprecedented situation where it appears supporters of white supremacist policies and members of alt-Right groups have been recruited to the Young Nationals since last December and risen to hold senior positions in the broader party.
A dossier of 40 members, obtained by The Daily Telegraph but not published for legal reasons, shows extensive links to neo-Nazi, fascist and alt-Right groups such as The New Guard, Antipodean Resistance and the Lads Society.
In some cases, Nationals members have posted photographs of Nazi guards outside the Holocaust extermination camp at Auschwitz and posted comments celebrating Adolf Hitler. One female member created a National Socialist (Nazi) Women’s group online.
Nationals state director Ross Cadell said he was “extremely troubled” by the views of some members.
“We are uncovering people every day,” he said.
“We are now up to 19 we have a high degree of confidence in and we are investigating 35 people. It’s spread beyond the Young Nationals and we are looking at the National Party in general, including the metro branch.
“One of the people seems to be in an Antipodean Resistance propaganda video and the quotes seem to celebrate Adolf Hitler in a very strong way.”
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Mr Cadell said some members under investigation are on party branch executives.
He said he would seek endorsement this morning from the National Party meeting of constitution and ethics to send letters to 19 members asking why they should not be expelled because of extremist links or commentary.
Under investigation are party members who seem to support neo-Nazi views and at least three National Party political staff who recruited them, and others linked to them.
Mr Cadell said a staff member for a Nationals minister, who the Telegraph has not named, is under investigation for recruiting some of the new members. There is no suggestion this staff member or the minister was aware of the views of those recruited.
Private messages reveal discussions among two party members about signing up 24 people now under investigation for extremist views before May’s Young Nationals Conference.
“Sorry I was late. Will hassle them to get their forms in this week,” a recruiter, who is an experienced political adviser for Nationals politicians, said on Facebook messenger.
The Telegraph has also obtained an email from Mr Cadell to NSW Liberal Party state director Chris Stone, in May, which first raised concerns about the new members prior to the conference.
Mr Cadell had been alerted to the new members by former Young Nationals state chair Jessica Price-Purnell in the days before the Young Nationals conference.
She urged in an email that the matter be “attended to urgently” after she noticed “an influx of new Young Nationals” coming from Sydney.
The dossier reveals the party members under investigation do not come from country areas but live in suburbs across Sydney, including Pennant Hills, Rockdale, South Hurstville and Bronte.
Material in the dossier shows one member comparing online the Holocaust to women who have abortions.
Another Nationals member shared a Nazi photograph with the caption “Join the National Sorority!” Others have posted of the “fourteen words”, a white supremacist phrase about securing the future for white children.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has commended the NSW Nationals for taking “swift and immediate action”.
“I was quiet shocked when I heard about those reports this morning and I commend the Nationals State Director for taking the action that he’s taking. Anyone with those views, I know, that Nationals party members would find abhorrent. And I commend the Nationals State Director for taking immediate and urgent action.”
She said deputy Premier John Barilaro is “as concerned as I am” over the revelations in The Daily Telegrpah today.
Mr Barilaro said it concerns him a small grassroots party like the Nationals can be “infilgrated by extremsit people with extremist views.”
“It shows how vulnerable our party can be that you can rally 30 to 40 memberships and end up with elected positions in the party and they can change policy,” he said.
“Whatever the investigation uncovers, we will stamp these people out. We do not want them in our party.”
WHO THEY ARE
THE DINGOES
An alt-right group that shares content with followers with an underlying theme of white supremacy. The men particularly take aim at the indigenous and multicultural values held in Australia. The Dingoes describe themselves as, “a group of young Australian men … who take great enjoyment in ridiculing the grievance-mongering of our media and imported popular culture.”
THE NEW GUARD
A white supremacy group that believes it must “fix the West” and advocate for a White Australia. Despite a large following, it has had minimal activity since April. On the Facebook Page, it says, “We see the lies of the few. We must fix the West. The cause is our people. We seek optimal physical, mental, social, and spiritual health for all.”
ANTIPODEAN RESISTANCE
A neo-Nazi group describing members as “21st Century Hitler Youth” and uses a swastika in its branding. Antipodean Resistance wants to “reclaim” Australia as white land and restore White Superiority and achievement. On its homepage, the group says, “we aim to provide an alternative for young Australians to the filth of modern society by setting a good example for people to live up to … such as alcoholism, drugs and race mixing … We oppose substance abuse, homosexuality, and all other rotten, irresponsible distractions laid before us by Jews and globalist elites.”
THE LADS SOCIETY
A group of Australian males who say they are “concerned over the state of affairs” of Australia. They hold regular meet ups across the country in the hope of building a better future for Australia. The main group is based in Melbourne, with smaller branches in other states. According to its website, the group is “committed to restoring the elements of our nation, starting at the individual, and community levels.”