Right-wing Australia First Party leader James Saleam claims innocence, court

The co-founder of a white supremacist group, jailed for planning the attempted shooting of an African diplomat, believes secret police documents will exonerate him.

Prominent right-wing leader and convicted fraudster James Saleam has launched legal proceedings in a bid to overturn his criminal convictions from 30 years ago.

The Australia First Party (AFP) president represented himself in a civil case against the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) on Tuesday in the National Civil and Administrative Tribunal, in which he is seeking access to secret documents he claims will exonerate him.

The 66-year-old is seeking related documents from the Commissioner of Police in a further civil case on January 24.

James Saleam is the leader of anti-immigration party Australia First. Picture: Brianne Makin

Saleam spent four years in jail for organising the attempted shooting of African National Congress diplomat Eddie Funde in 1989, which he pleaded not guilty to.

In May 1991, a jury found Saleam guilty of malicious damage to property and accessory before the fact for ordering shots to be fired at the activist’s home with a shotgun he supplied.

He also claims to be innocent of further criminal convictions, including fraud and property offences, which he was convicted of in the early 80s.

An Australia First Party member produced an amateur film on James Saleam.

Saleam, who represented himself, told the court he sought privileged information regarding “guns and state witnesses”.

The LECC solicitor told the court the case was “a fairly clear matter of someone seeking excluded information from an agency”.

‘Excluded information’ is defined as private details related to the function of an agency which is not required to be released to the public.

The case was adjourned for a mention next month.

Saleam has led a life of controversy as co-founder of white supremacy group National Action in 1982 and now as leader of the Australia First Party, an anti-immigration group.

The party website includes divisive information supporting a White Australia policy, with shocking historical quotes discriminating against minority groups while glorifying a white ‘superior race’.

A new film on Saleam called ‘Political Outlaw’, which was produced by member Nathan Sykes, is advertised by the party on social media with the slogan: ‘Targeted by ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation), set up by the Special Branch, jailed for his patriotism, Jim Saleam is Australia’s no.1 political outlaw’.