Neo-Nazi Matthew Gruter deported from Australia after visa revoked
A neo-Nazi is jetting back to South Africa after sitting for weeks in immigration detention following a protest outside NSW parliament.
A South African man who took part in a widely condemned neo-Nazi rally outside the NSW parliament has been deported weeks after his visa was revoked.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke cancelled Matthew Gruter’s visa after he was photographed among scores of National Socialist Network (NSN) supporters displaying a banner that read: “Abolish the Jewish lobby”.
He was immediately taken into immigration detention at NSW’s Villawood centre and had the choice of leaving voluntarily or choosing to exercise his right of appeal.
The latter could have been a lengthy legal process.
NewsWire understands Mr Gruter flew out of Australia with his wife and young child on Thursday.
Whether Mr Gruter chose to leave of his own accord or fight to stay in the country, Mr Burke said at the time he was “confident” his decision to cancel the visa would stack up legally.
“(We’re) not only confident of our legal position, but also confident of the values of this country,” he told reporters.
“We are a decent welcoming country, and the sort of hatred that was involved in that protest has nothing to do with Australia.”
Details of how Mr Gruter came to Australia are scarce, but scraps of information from his and his wife’s online activity suggest arrived on a sponsored work visa.
He had been living in Australia with for about three years.
The demonstration Mr Gruter took part in sparked nationwide furore.
It was revealed NSW Police had allowed it to go ahead but did not inform the commissioner or state government.
NSW Premier Chris Minns vowed to amend laws to ban actions that indicate support for Nazi ideology.
Originally published as Neo-Nazi Matthew Gruter deported from Australia after visa revoked
