Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell apologises to Mal Lanyon over neo-Nazi protest ‘oversight’
One of the state’s most senior officers has confirmed he was briefed about the neo-Nazi protest a week ago, and has apologised to new Commissioner Mal Lanyon for not briefing him.
One of the state’s most senior cops has apologised to NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon for not informing him about a planned neo-Nazi protest outside state parliament over the weekend.
Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell also labelled the 60 members of the National Socialist Network who gathered on Macquarie Street on Saturday as “idiots” and said like the rest of society he was “offended” by their presence.
Mr Thurtell spoke exclusively to The Daily Telegraph after this masthead revealed he had been informed about the demonstration ahead of time.
He conceded the decision not to inform the new Commissioner, who would have then briefed Police Minister Yasmin Catley and Premier Chris Minns, was an “oversight”, and he had apologised to Mr Lanyon within hours of learning what had occurred on Saturday.
Mr Thurtell confirmed he received a briefing last Monday, November 3, but was not provided any documentation about the group’s plans.
“I was briefed at our usual Monday morning operational briefing last week that there was a planned protest by the ‘White Australia’ group about Jewish lobby influence over the government, and it was to take place outside of Parliament House,” Mr Thurtell said.
“In hindsight, the nature of the ‘White Australia’ group is of such political interest and community interest to our organisation, that I should’ve advised the Commissioner that this protest was taking place.
“It was an oversight on my part and I have apologised to the Commissioner about that oversight.”
There are more than 1,000 protests in Sydney’s CBD every year, which are automatically considered approved, unless police are able to outline their legal objections.
Mr Thurtell said he was angry when he learned what had unfolded, with the group of men all dressed in black and spruiking hateful ideologies over a megaphone, but said NSW Police never had legal grounds to oppose the protest.
“In terms of how I felt about what happened outside of Parliament House, I mean, I’m as offended by these idiots as anybody else in society,” he said.
Mr Thurtell admitted Commissioner Lanyon was “frustrated” when he discovered he had not been briefed on the planned protest, but said the pair had been “friends for many years” and he accepted his apology.
“He was no doubt frustrated that he wasn’t aware, and he was being asked questions about something he hadn’t been told about,” Mr Thurtell said.
“As I said that was an oversight on my part but he’s a gentleman and he treated me with respect.”
The fact that Mr Thurtell had known of the neo-Nazi protest a week ago has not been disclosed by the Premier, Police Minister or Police Commissioner during various media opportunities over the past few days.
This masthead was the first to reveal the news on Monday afternoon.
In September, Mr Thurtell had told Budget Estimates neo-Nazi groups had become such a concern that specialist NSW Police were “constantly monitoring their activities”.
Premier Mr Minns has now flagged the possibility of strengthening NSW’s hate speech laws, which would involve banning Nazi slogans or speeches in public places.
Members attached to the “White Australia” movement on Saturday were heard chanting “blood and honour” – a known motto of the Hitler Youth.
Two female MPs, Kellie Sloane and Allegra Spender, have also both made reports to police after they received online threats relating to the ugly protest.
Ms Sloane said in parliament on Monday that she would “not be intimidated by this group or by people who support them.”
“I will not be bullied out of saying what I think and I will stand up for people in my community and for the broader community of Sydney who don’t like hate, who don’t want division any more, and who don’t accept this kind of behaviour” she claimed.
This masthead has confirmed Upper House MP Rod Roberts will on Tuesday give notice to call for all documents relating to any private correspondence relating to the planned neo-Nazi rally.
The state opposition will also move to introduce tougher laws in NSW, which would restrict activist groups to only three free protests per year. The reforms would require the courts to consider the cost to taxpayers of the demonstration, plus any economic impacts and potential public disruptions.
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Originally published as Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell apologises to Mal Lanyon over neo-Nazi protest ‘oversight’
