Australian neo-Nazi group make vile demonstration on sacred Indigenous site

A group of Australian neo-Nazis have made a vile demonstration on top of a sacred Indigenous site.

A group of Australian neo-Nazis have made a vile demonstration on top of a sacred Indigenous site.

Members of the far-right group the National Socialist Network have defied a strict ban to climb Wollumbin, formerly known as Mount Warning, to claim it is for the “white man” after it was closed off for public access due to it’s significance to Indigenous Australians.

Disturbing images shared to X show members of the group seen with balaclavas while holding up a banner proclaiming “Mt Warning for white man” from the summit lookout.

One of the members appears to hold an Australian flag while two others display a Nazi flag.

Wollumbin was closed to climbers four years ago during the pandemic and has remained shut due to its cultural significance.

The group shared the images online. Picture: X / @113official

“The National Socialist Network in Queensland travelled to climb Mt Warning last weekend,” the group said.

“White Australians established and maintained the trail for nearly a century, and white Australians will decide who climbs it.”

The closure of the famous site has long sparked controversy from both sides of the debate.

The Wollumbin Aboriginal Place Management plan stated that the mountain was considered a “men’s site” and that the “sanctity” of Wollumbin Aboriginal Place “may also manifest physically”, making people sick or putting women in “physical danger”.

“For example, if women access areas that are restricted to men, women are in physical danger and likewise for men,” the plan stated.

The closure sparked protests as some defied the ban to climb the peak, with reports revealing earlier this year that private security guards had been hired at a cost of $7,000 per week to keep people away from the mountain.

The group are appearing to protest the ban at the site. Picture: X / @113official

Libertarian MP John Ruddick started a petition, which gained more than 10,000 signatures, encouraging the reopening of the trail.

“The petitioners of New South Wales state that Mt Warning, which has been walked by visitors young and old for generations, has been closed to all but select Indigenous males by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, in violation of liberal democratic principles,” the petition said.

“The petitioners request that the House call upon the Minister for the Environment to reopen Mt Warning’s summit track so it can be enjoyed by all, regardless of race or gender.”

Wollumbin is the highest peak at Australia’s most easterly point, thereby being the first part of Australia each day to be drenched in sunlight.

The peak attracted more than 127,000 visitors every year before the Tweed Shire Trail was shut down in March 2020.

During its closure, the mountain has been guarded by security to the tune of $7,000 a week.

NSW upper house MP John Ruddick told news.com.au it was a “sad and terrible joke” that private security guards were hired to keep people away from a mountain.

The pictures have upset many in the community. Picture: X / @113official

“Mount Warning is (part of) a national park like any other, it is a taxpayer funded asset of our state that should be enjoyed, appreciated, and respected by all Australians,” he said.

“This is why I am seeking support for a parliamentary inquiry; this inquiry will empower all community stakeholders to have their say rather than just a few.

“It is my hope that this will lead to the reopening of Mount Warning in a respectful and responsible way.

“Ngaraakwal Elder Marlene Boyd who sadly passed away said ‘How can the public experience the spiritual significance of this land if they do not climb the summit and witness creation?”.’

The Wollumbin Aboriginal Place Management plan argued public access to the site has resulted in vandalism, the dumping of rubbish, increased erosion, and illegal installation of infrastructure.

The document said the key cultural and spiritual values of the place cannot be respected or protected if the general public continues to have access.

In 2019, climbing was banned on Uluru, ending a decades-old tradition for visitors to the Red Centre, in recognition of the rock’s cultural significance to the Anangu people.

Last year, a section of rock at Mount Beerwah, considered a sacred Indigenous site to the Jinibara people, was defaced with a message reading “Jesus saves just ask him”.

The mountain was a huge tourist destination. Picture: iStock

Jinibara Elder Kenny Murphy told The Guardian at the time that he believed the vandalism was “clearly payback” for efforts by traditional owners to stop people climbing the mountain.

“The mountain is very important, it’s like our St John’s Cathedral, it’s a special mountain to us,” he said.

“Why can’t we have that respected? It’s just bulls**t what they’ve done, this is a birthing site, it has a special meaning to us, but Jesus is clearly the only spiritual thing this person understands.”

“They want to show that there isn’t anything significant to the mountain, they would’ve cried if it was their cathedral,’ he added.

“They can’t just leave us alone, they’ve killed our way of life, killed all the animals, poisoned our waters, and now this. It’s a big insult to us.”