Western Australian authorities have ordered the deportation of Ryan Turner, a British national residing in Australia, following his identification as an active participant in the National Socialist Network—a recognized neo-Nazi organization. Turner’s visa was formally revoked on character grounds, resulting in his transfer to immigration detention this Tuesday. He now faces the choice of contesting the decision through legal channels or voluntarily returning to the United Kingdom.
This action aligns with Australia’s intensified campaign against right-wing extremism and antisemitic activities. Turner’s affiliation places him within the same group that orchestrated an inflammatory anti-Jewish demonstration outside New South Wales Parliament last year. Approximately sixty men, uniformly dressed in black and displaying banners demanding the ‘abolition of the Jewish lobby,’ participated in the rally. Chants of ‘blood and honour’—a phrase historically linked to Hitler Youth—were reported during the event.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized the government’s unwavering stance, stating: ‘Our government has zero tolerance for bigotry and hate. If you don’t like Australia, you can leave.’
The deportation follows recent legislative reforms that introduced mandatory prison sentences for displaying hate symbols, including the Nazi salute. These measures gained urgency after last year’s Bondi Beach shooting, where two gunmen killed 15 people at a Jewish event, prompting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to announce strengthened laws targeting hate speech and radicalization.
Turner’s case mirrors earlier enforcement actions against foreign extremists. Matthew Gruter, a South African civil engineer and fellow National Socialist Network member, was expelled last November after participating in the same rally. Gruter subsequently returned to South Africa with his family. Simultaneously, Queensland authorities arrested another British national, Kayn Adam Charles Wells, for using social media to distribute Nazi propaganda and incite violence against Jewish communities. Wells currently awaits processing in immigration detention.
These coordinated efforts reflect Australia’s strategic application of immigration law to combat domestic extremism, granting the Home Affairs Minister enhanced authority to deny or cancel visas for individuals promoting hatred and division.