South African man Matthew Gruter has had his visa to stay in Australia taken away after he took part in a neo-Nazi rally outside the New South Wales parliament on 8 November. Gruter, who moved to Australia in 2022 with his wife, joined the protest run by the National Socialist Network, a known neo-Nazi group.
Gruter was seen at the front of about 60 men dressed in black, holding a sign that said “Abolish the Jewish lobby”. The protest lasted less than 20 minutes and included chants of “blood and honour”, a slogan linked to the Hitler Youth. Gruter is said to be a senior member of the NSW branch of the group.
Visa Revocation and Government Response
Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the visa was cancelled, stating: “If you are on a visa, you are a guest. If you’re a citizen, you’re a full member of the Australian family. Like with any household, if a guest turns up to show hatred and wreck the household, they can be told ‘it’s time to go home’.”
Gruter had come to Australia on a visa that needed a local business to sponsor him. He works as a civil engineer. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the protest was a “shocking display of hatred and racism and antisemitism”.
The rally has led to talk about new rules for hate speech in the state. It also shows the rise of far-right groups in Australia. Gruter had posted online photos of a silver bracelet with the Nazi slogan “blood and honour”. He moved with his wife in 2022. This shows that people on visas must follow the country’s strict rules.
Concerns Over Right-Wing Extremism
The National Socialist Network is watched closely for its neo-Nazi views. Anti-racism leaders, like Sarah Schwartz of the Jewish Council of Australia, said such groups hurt the country’s mix of cultures and make it hard to tell peaceful protest from hate acts.
Australia has been tough on far-right groups in the past years, even making the Nazi salute a crime with prison time. Gruter’s removal shows the government will not accept hate or extremist acts.
When asked about his links to Nazi views, Gruter said: “Since when is it a crime to love and advocate for your own people?” Officials said his acts broke the rules of his visa, so he was sent out fast.
The process to remove him is now in place, and Gruter must leave Australia at once. The government will keep watching extremist acts and act against anyone who tries to spread hate in the country.
