Poster from neo-Nazi group National Socialist Network stuck to Darwin bus stop

A neo-Nazi poster was plastered up in Darwin as the CLP prepares to repeal hate speech protections for Territorians.

A neo-Nazi poster has been plastered up in Darwinas the government prepares to repeal hate speech protections for Territorians.

On Friday, NT Police confirmed they were aware a poster claiming to be from the neo-Nazi group, the National Socialist Network, had been put up at a Dripstone Rd, Casuarina bus stop.

The poster read “Australia for the white man” and includes the image of two ‘fasces’, an ancient Roman symbol for authority which was co-opted by Mussolini’s fascist movement in Italy.

A woman, who asked not to be named, said she was shocked to see “neo-Nazi’s in the NT”, and immediately tore down the poster.

She suspects the sign was directed to intimidate the passengers on the bus, and students of the nearby religious adult education centre for Indigenous Australians, Nungalinya College.

A poster claiming to be from the neo-Nazi group, the National Socialist Network, appeared at Dripstone Rd bus stop on Friday February 21.

The woman said the neo-Nazi poster was part of a wider concerning growth of racist movement, potentially fuelled by the Voice referendum, the US election, as well as Territory announcements to scrap the treaty process and weaken the Anti-Discrimination Act.

“It is extremely concerning what this might lead to, tolerance for bigotry, hatred and discrimination should never be supported,” she said.

Changes to the Act afoot

Multicultural Affairs Minister Jinson Charls said there was “no place for racism”, stating the government was “committed to ensuring the Territory is a safe place that provides equal opportunity for all”.

The appearance of the neo-Nazi signs come a week after Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro announced she would remove vilification protections from the Anti-Discrimination Act.

Lia Finocchiaro Chief Minister of the Northern Territory has announced she would remove vilification protections from the Anti-Discrimination Act. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Last Tuesday Ms Finocchiaro said repealing the hate speech provisions would “remove the ridiculous inclusion of offending someone as some type of discrimination”.

The proposed changes would mean the Territory would be the only place in Australia without legislation that made public incitement to acts of racial hatred either an unlawful act, a criminal offence, or both.

A spokeswoman from Ms Finocchiaro’s office said work was underway to remove the inclusion of “offending someone as a type of discrimination”.

Former Attorney-General Chansey Paech said the vilification protections would not lead to ‘vexatious claims’. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

When the landmark Anti-Discrimination Act reforms were debated in 2022, as Opposition leader Ms Finocchiaro opposed the hate speech provisions.

While stating “nobody is in favour of gross vilification and dangerous hate speech”, Ms Finocchiaro said the laws set an “extremely low bar”.

However, then Attorney-General Chansey Paech said this was simply “scaremongering” and purposefully misunderstood the legislation.

Mr Paech said the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner would be able to ensure that “vexatious claims” or “complaints that are clearly unmeritorious will not progress beyond the initial assessment”.

Indeed since the vilification laws came into effect 40 complaints have been made to the NT Anti-Discrimination Commission, eight of which were accepted.

Members of the Territory's disability and queer community celebrated in November 2022 as landmark changes to the Anti-Discrimination were passed through Parliament. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

On Friday, Commissioner Jeswynn Yogaratnam said to remove vilification protections would be a “setback for human rights and equality in the Territory”.

“These changes threaten to strip essential protections for vulnerable communities, exposing Territorians to the risk of hate speech and discrimination,” Mr Yogaratnam said.

The Commissioner said 2022 changes brought the Territory in line with national human rights standards, and were the product of decades of community consultation, expert input, and advocacy.

NT Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Jeswynn Yogaratnam.

Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said the plan to “strip laws that protect our diverse community from discrimination, harassment, and victimisation is unacceptable”.

“We have seen a troubling rise in race-based attacks in southern states, driven by disinformation, fearmongering, and hate speech,” Ms Uibo said.

“We should be doing everything possible to send a clear message that intolerance and hate have no place in the Northern Territory — Instead, the CLP is doing the opposite.”

Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said the government had “zero tolerance for hate crimes, neo-Nazis, and racism – they have no place in our society”, however backed the removal of vilification protections.

“There are already existing laws in place under the NT’s Criminal Code and Summary Offences Act to protect people against abuse and threats,” Ms Boothby said.

“The CLP government is committed to enforcing those laws when and if they are broken.”

Originally published as Poster from neo-Nazi group National Socialist Network stuck to Darwin bus stop