Neo-Nazis threaten MPs as police defend rally response
Two female MPs were attacked by extremists after criticizing a prominent neo-Nazi rally, which police acknowledged was not the first rally sanctioned by far-right extremists.
Federal MP Allegra Harcama and state MP Kellie Sloane, whose overlapping electorates in Sydney’s east have large Jewish populations, told police on Sunday about several provocative threats made against them.
The threats came after MPs condemned 60 black-clad men chanting Nazi slogans and unfurled a large banner bearing the slogan “Abolish the Jewish Lobby” at the gates of the NSW parliament on Saturday.
The men were affiliated with the National Socialist Network.
The leader of a neo-Nazi group called on his “patriots” to “rhetorically rape Allegra Spender”, triggering hundreds of messages directed at the independent MP.
“It’s quite shocking and not something you ever want to hear, but we have reported it to the police,” Ms Candler told ABC radio on Monday.
“These are the real extremists out there. They’re trying to intimidate the broader mainstream community.”
He criticized the police and the government for allowing the rally to take place.
“So far it’s very unclear from the perspective of the NSW government and also the NSW police what should have happened rather than what actually happened,” Ms Candler said.
Just six weeks into his new role, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has vowed to get to the bottom of a command-level decision to avoid opposing a meeting in central Sydney.
Mr Lanyon said organizers gave more than a week’s notice and were given the green light because no public safety concerns were flagged by police.
This was followed by the force seeking advice on legal options for how to handle the court challenge.
“This group has protested before…we have had interactions with them as well,” Mr. Lanyon said.
“There were no issues with public safety in these particular areas.
“We took legal advice on the content of the banner to be used and were told there was no reasonable prospect of prosecution in this regard.”
The fringe group held a march outside parliament in June, where participants wore black uniforms and unfurled a banner reading “End Immigration.”
Ignoring allegations that some police officers were sympathetic to neo-Nazi messages, Mr Laynon said he found the group and its rhetoric disgusting.
Prime Minister Chris Minns condemned the “vile” and “bigoted” abuse directed at two MPs in Sydney’s east and promised action over the rally.
“I will review the conversations to determine whether existing hate speech laws were violated,” he said.
“We can’t let this happen again.”
Mr Minns rejected suggestions of double standards over how police cracked down on protests by pro-climate and pro-Palestine groups compared to protests by neo-Nazi extremists.
Ms Sloane, whose voters in Vaucluse state make up 15 per cent of Australia’s Jewish population, said the government’s handling of the rally was “a complete sham”.
X remained defiant in the face of violent threats that led him to deactivate his account.
“I will not be afraid of them and I will not stop speaking out about behavior that is racist and offends the majority of decent people in NSW,” he said.
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