Australian authorities have taken decisive action against a British national residing in Queensland, canceling his visa and initiating deportation proceedings following allegations of promoting Nazi ideology and inciting violence against Jewish communities. The 43-year-old man, whose identity remains protected under Australian law, was arrested earlier this month after federal police uncovered his social media activities involving the display of prohibited Nazi symbols and explicit calls for violence.
The case emerged when the Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched an investigation in October after detecting offensive content on platform X (formerly Twitter). Despite the social media company blocking his initial account, the individual reportedly created a new profile with similar identification to continue disseminating hate material. During a late November raid on his Caboolture residence near Brisbane, authorities confiscated multiple weapons including knives, axes, and several swords adorned with swastika symbols.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke delivered a strong statement regarding the case, emphasizing: ‘He came here to hate – he doesn’t get to stay.’ The minister further clarified Australia’s stance on visa holders during an ABC interview, stating, ‘If you come to Australia on a visa, you are here as a guest.’
The accused currently remains in immigration detention in Brisbane while awaiting court proceedings scheduled for January. He faces three charges of displaying banned Nazi symbols and one count of using internet services to cause offense. Police authorities are evaluating whether to postpone deportation to ensure his appearance in court.
This case represents the second high-profile visa cancellation under Australia’s strengthened hate crime legislation. Last month, authorities revoked the visa of South African national Matthew Gruter after his participation in a neo-Nazi rally outside the New South Wales parliament. Both individuals retain the right to appeal their visa cancellations and may either depart voluntarily or face forced deportation to their home countries.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt affirmed the government’s commitment to social cohesion, stating: ‘We want to ensure these symbols are not being used to fracture social cohesion. If we identify instances where this is happening, we will act swiftly to disrupt the behaviour, prosecute those involved and protect the dignity, safety and cohesion of our diverse community.’
Australia recently implemented stricter hate crime laws introducing mandatory prison sentences for displaying hate symbols or performing Nazi salutes, reflecting increased governmental efforts to combat rising antisemitism and right-wing extremism.