QNews: National Socialist Network to disband due to proposed hate speech laws
Michael Barnett OAM
National Socialist Network to disband due to proposed hate speech laws
Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell has said the white nationalist organisation and National Socialist Network will disband before the government’s new hate speech laws come into effect.
Next week, Parliament will sit to debate a package of legislation that combines hate speech reforms with gun law changes.
The hate speech reforms would criminalise promoting or inciting hatred, or disseminating ideas of superiority or hatred towards another person or group of people based on their race, colour, or national or ethnic origin.
It includes an aggravated sentence provision that would allow courts to impose harsher penalties if the motivation was racial hatred.
Neo-Nazi group the National Socialist Network said it will disband in response to proposed laws in a statement posted to Telegram on Tuesday.
“The National Socialist Network will be fully disbanded before 11:59 pm Sunday, the 18th of January 2026,” the statement said.
“If the laws pass, there will be no way to avoid the organisation being banned.”
“This disbandment is being done before the laws take effect to avoid former members of the organisations from being arrested and charged.”
This also applies to aligned groups, White Australia, the European Australian Movement and the White Australia Party.
Under the proposed bill, it would become a crime for an individual to direct the activities of a prohibited hate group.
This includes being a member of, recruiting for, training, or providing support or funds to the group.
The same restrictions that apply to groups currently registered under the higher threshold terrorist listing.
‘The individuals will still try to find ways to spew hatred’
The far-right group held a neo-nazi protest rally outside NSW Parliament in November.
Men clad in black, covering their faces, hurling Nazi slogans and racist and anti-Semitic rhetoric.
The group leader, Thomas Sewell, is facing charges relating to two incidents, including allegedly leading a group attack on a sacred First Nations site in Melbourne.
The federal government’s proposed legislation is being pushed through quickly in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.
It will make it easier for the federal government to designate organisations as hate groups.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke welcomed the news of the National Socialist Network’s disbandment but said the fight against bigotry “never ends”.
“The individuals will still try to find ways to spew hatred, and we will keep deporting people and disbanding organisations that hate Australia,” he told ABC News.
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation chief, Mike Burgess, told a parliamentary committee hearing on Tuesday that the agency has considered responding to the disbanding.
“Of course, the individuals don’t cease to exist; they’re still there in society,” he said.
“And obviously, the problematic ones we will continue to watch if they continue to be problematic.”
Despite ongoing calls from advocates, hatred directed at people based on sexual orientation or gender identity is not covered in the proposed bill.
When asked directly why the legislation excludes other attributes, Prime Minister Albanese highlighted the need for broad parliamentary support, raising concerns about unintended consequences.
He confirmed the government’s focus was on antisemitism, saying broader hate speech reforms could be considered later if this legislation passes.
Image: Australian Parliament House / YoutubeEntrenches the idea some forms of hate are worse than others
Australian Jewish LGBTIQA+ group, Aleph Melbourne, said it makes little sense to only protect half their identity.
“It makes no sense to us that half our identity is protected from hate and the other half isn’t,” said spokesperson Michael Barnett.
“The same ideology is being used to drive attacks on both the LGBTIQA+ and Jewish communities.”
“Neo-Nazis and white supremacists want to eradicate gay and trans people as much as they want to eradicate Jews.”
Advocates warn the legislation risks entrenching the idea that some forms of hate are worse than others.
“No one should be targeted because of their race or religion,” said Equality Australia Legal Director Heather Corkhill.
“No one should be targeted because of their sexuality or gender identity. Creating a hierarchy of protections actively undermines social cohesion as well as the effectiveness of the law.”