Opposition: Police should have tried to stop neo-Nazi rally
Mark Speakman is demanding answers after police failed to block a neo-Nazis to rally outside NSW Parliament, where 60 protesters chanted Hitler Youth slogans.
Fresh doubts have been cast over why police did not oppose a neo-Nazi rally which resulted in more than 60 demonstrators chanting a Hitler Youth motto outside NSW Parliament.
Opposition leader Mark Speakman has also questioned why authorities did not attempt to block the protest through the courts, by testing the state’s new hate speech laws.
The demonstration on Saturday saw more than 60 members of White Australia NSW, which is directly associated with the National Socialist Network, gather at parliament’s front entrance on Macquarie St, with a banner reading “Abolish the Jewish Lobby.”
“Multiculturalism is a big table - and every ethnic group gets a seat except the white man who built this country… the Anzacs fought for a free and white Australia…” one leader of the group was heard saying into the microphone.
The group, dressed entirely in black, with some covering their faces with hats and sunglasses, then repeatedly chanted “blood and honour” - a Nazi slogan historically used by members of Germany’s Hitler Youth.
Mr Speakman said there was an argument about if what occurred on Saturday “offends the new 93ZAA in the Crimes Act”.
“The police should have objected to this assembly and if necessary the matter should have gone to court” Mr Speakman claimed.
New state laws passed earlier this year made it an offence for a person in public to “intentionally incite hatred towards another person, or a group of persons on the ground of race”.
According to section 93ZAA of the Crimes Act, the public behaviour would have to “cause a reasonable person who was the target of the incitement of hatred… to fear harassment, intimidation or violence”, or fear for their safety.
While police are reviewing footage of the rally, no charges have been laid.
Mr Speakman said the demonstration was “all about intimidation and instilling fear into the Jewish community”.
“These Neo Nazi groups are very cunning. They sail close to the wind at every opportunity. And that means we have to test the laws that are in place” he said.
The Daily Telegraph understands preliminary advice provided to local police indicated attempts to block the group, who also demonstrated at state parliament in June, would have almost certainly been defeated in the courts.
Hundreds of Form 1 “protest permits” are completed across NSW every year. At least seven days’ notice must be provided and the rallies are immediately determined as “approved” unless police outline any objections.
In the case of Saturday, the rally request was made on behalf of “White Australia”, who are known to be directly linked to the National Socialist Network, and who had previously managed to demonstrate outside State Parliament in June.
A police source added that it was standard practice for a local area command to alert superiors of any protests of significance.
However, Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon conceded over the weekend that a “communication error” meant he “did not personally know” the neo-Nazi rally was taking place.
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Originally published as Opposition: Police should have tried to stop neo-Nazi rally
