Part time tradie, full time neo-Nazi
A Sydney air conditioning installer is the NSW leader of a neo-Nazi group planning to launch a political party focused on “racism and mass deportations”.
If you live in Sydney’s west the man installing your new air conditioner might be the NSW leader of a neo-Nazi clan, which has been described by Premier Chris Minns as “racist, violent and often horrifying.”
Tradie Jack Eltis, 28, a worshipper of Adolf Hitler, led the group who assembled outside state parliament on Saturday, carrying a sign with the words “Abolish the Jewish Lobby.”
Dressed in black and brazenly displaying their faces, the group chanted “blood and honour”, an infamous motto of the Hitler Youth movement. A separate protest by the same mob was held on Macquarie Street in June.
The scenes have created a full-blown political firestorm and led to an apology from Deputy Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell, who had knowledge of the demonstration but did not brief his new boss, Commissioner Mal Lanyon.
It has also resulted in the Minns Government exploring the possibility of banning Nazi slogans in public places, while separately reviewing the approval process for “Form 1” protest permits, which are completed by 1,000 people each year.
Eltis, who joined the Australian Socialist Network in 2021, said they initially had three members in the NSW chapter but were now approaching “close to 100.”
“We recruit all sorts of men - blue collar, white collar, from 16 all the way through to like 65 years old. Most work normal 9 to 5 or 7 to 3 jobs” Eltis told The Daily Telegraph.
He said the NSN was receiving significant legal advice, through both external firms and some of their supporters, to curate their protest permits and determine how much they could get away with at public rallies.
“We go up to the legal threshold - up to the maximum that we can” he said.
“Most of the members are happy to show their face and espouse their political beliefs to the public now,” Eltis declared.
Mr Minns this week described the neo-Nazis as “absolute bandits” and populated by “racist, often violent and horrifying individuals.”
The Premier told parliament the group was “targeting young people to join a horrific, fascist, racist Nazi movement…”
Eltis confirmed they were indeed preparing to launch a political party, “White Australia”, early next year: “we want to do state and federal (elections), starting with federal. Our platform is racism. Mass deportations,” he claimed, with no emotion in his voice. He said the group was about “90 percent” through the application process.
According to the AEC, registering a federal political party involves selecting a name and logo within the requirements of the Electoral Act, drafting a constitution, paying a $500 fee and assembling at least 1,500 members.
The AEC and members of the public can only object to applications on specific legal grounds, including if the name of a party is “obscene, frivolous or vexatious”, or if they are unable to confirm the number of reported political members.
Separately in NSW, just 750 members are required for registration.
Mr Minns told reporters on Wednesday the NSW Electoral Commissioner also had a “public interest test available” when determining registration, and while it was an “independent decision”, he would assumed “that a nakedly racist organisation would be a very strong risk” of reaching that test.
The Premier also warned that the names of anyone who was prepared to sign on as a political member risked being “publicly associated with Nazis in NSW.”
“Despite what the organisers of the party will tell you, this information may well become public and you’ll be exposed as a racist” Mr Minns claimed.
Specialist NSW Police continue to monitor the NSN’s activities in Sydney, including their regular public gatherings where they engage in physical activity including mixed martial arts and power-lifting. It is a requirement of NSN members to meet once a month.
In a major speech delivered just last week, ASIO boss Mike Burgess said the group’s “provocative, offensive and high-profile actions are antithetical to social cohesion.”
“Even if the organisation does not engage in terrorism, I remain deeply concerned by its hateful, divisive rhetoric and increasingly violent propaganda, and the growing likelihood these things will prompt spontaneous violence, particularly in response to perceived provocation” Mr Burgess said.
Eltis, who said he shuns multicultural food and refuses to serve non-white customers, claimed his family and friends had no problem with him being the head of the neo-Nazi movement in NSW.
However in a Facebook post published last year, which is still online, one of Eltis’ parents addresses the situation.
“As some of you know, our son Jack Eltis has involved himself in a Neo Nazi organisation. None of our family condone or support this organisation,” the post read.
“... you do your best to raise kids the right way. Jack is 27 and his own man… not a single regret but kids and pets are a trap”.
