Neo-Nazi group hit with sanctions as Dutton relaunches Dural caravan criticism at Albo
Nation-first sanctions have been slapped on a Neo-Nazi group, as Peter Dutton intensifies criticism over when Anthony Albanese was briefed on a caravan allegedly packed with explosives.
Australia has imposed counter terror financing sanctions on a white supremacist online terrorist network that promotes racially-motivated violence, amid calls for Labor to do more to tackle the nation’s anti-Semitism crisis.
The federal government has acted to make it a criminal offence for any Australia to use or deal with the assets of the extreme right wing “Terrorgram” network, with penalties including up to 10 years’ imprisonment and heavy fines, following similar moves in the US and UK to stem support for the group.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the sanctions on Terrorgram, which is a decentralised network of channels on the platform Telegram that promotes radical neo-Nazi and violent content, were part of the government’s work to “combat anti-Semitism and keep Australians safe”.
“It is the first time any Australian Government has imposed counter-terrorism financing sanctions on an entity based entirely online,” she said.
Terrogram openly advocates for the commission of terrorist acts, shares instructions and guides on how members should conduct racially motivated violent acts and advocates for minority groups, police, politicians and other public figures to be targeted.
“This demonstrates the Albanese Government’s commitment to disrupting the activities of terrorists and violent extremists and preventing them from recruiting and radicalising people online,” Ms Wong said.
As parliament prepares to sit for the first time in 2025 on Tuesday, Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said there were a number of things Labor could do immediately to further address anti-Semitism in Australia.
He called for reforms to current incitement to violence laws, minimum sentences of at least six years for Commonwealth terrorism offences and 12-months for public display of hate symbols, including Nazi emblems.
Labor is also being urged to establish an anti-Semitism taskforce with a broader scope than the current Australian Federal Police special operation.
The Coalition is also pushing for an independent inquiry into why Anthony Albanese and relevant federal ministers were not immediately informed about the Dural caravan incident.
“Anti-Semitic graffiti incidents in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth over the weekend can all be added to the Prime Minister’s new database,” Mr Paterson said.
“But so far there is no evidence being added to an excel spreadsheet will deter anti-Semites or criminals for hire. Only real action can do that.”
It comes as Opposition leader Peter Dutton on Sunday relaunched attacks on the Prime Minister over when he was briefed on the caravan.
“If (NSW Premier Chris Minns) was told by the New South Wales Police not to raise it with the Prime Minister – why? I don’t think there’s been a true and honest account of what’s happened here,” Mr Dutton told the ABC.
“But if the Prime Minister of our country is not across what was potentially the biggest terrorist attack in our country’s history, essentially until the public found out about it, I think that is an absolute abrogation of his responsibility.”
Mr Albanese on Friday said the “correct protocol …(is) that we don’t speak out operational matters”.
“I have no intention of undermining an ongoing investigation by going into the details,” he said.
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