Australian Nazi group disbands ahead of anticipated national ban
Above: Members of NSN march through the CBD of Ballarat / Wikipedai Commons.
According to Xinhuanet Australian neo-Nazi group the National Socialist Network (NSN) has offcially announced that it will disband in response to new hate speech laws proposed by the federal government following the Bondi Beach terror attack.
The NSN said in a statement posted on social media that it will close down by Jan. 18, one day before the federal parliament is set to reconvene to debate legislation for the hate speech laws.
Under the proposed laws, which were promised in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack that killed 15 people on Dec. 14, it would be easier for the federal government to designate organizations as prohibited hate groups.
Once a group is prohibited, it would become a criminal offense to be a member, direct the activities of the group, recruit for the group, provide, receive or participate in training involving the group, get funds to, from or for the group, or provide support to the group, with penalties of up to 15 years in prison.
The statement said that there would be "no way" to avoid the neo-Nazi group from being banned if the laws pass the federal parliament.
"This disbandment is being done before the laws take effect to avoid former members of the organizations from being arrested and charged," it said
According to a report in The Australian newspaper, this move comes just 24 hours after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed the NSN would be branded a “Prohibited Hate Group” under a new regime that will ban extremist organisations and charge members for recruiting, funding or directing with between seven to 15 years’ jail time.
“The National Socialist network will be fully disbanded before 11:59pm Sunday the 18th of January 2026,” the message read.
“The disbandment includes not only the National Socialist Network but its co-projects, White Australia, the European Australian Movement and the White Australia Party.
“If the laws pass, there will be no way to avoid the organisation being banned.”
Furthermore writes The Australian, NSN leader Thomas Sewell signed off the message with a call for “blood and honour” alongside other key members including Jacob Hersant and Jack Eltis.
The decision to buckle under the pressure of the draft hate speech reforms – which remain under review and must still pass parliament – will be taken as an early win for the Albanese government.
In its message to members, NSN conceded the new hate group listing “allows the government to ban any organisation that has given Roman salutes in the past”, weeding out its affiliate “co-projects”.
NSN said it was disbanding to protect former members who could be dragged back before the courts and charged under the new regime, which will give Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke sweeping executive powers to ban groups that plan, assist or advocate for “conduct constituting a hate crime”.
At a press conference to announce the new laws on Monday in response to the Bondi terror attack, Mr Albanese singled out NSN and the radical Islamist outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir as the two groups that will be first in line to be banned.
The group have also led anti-immigration protests including the March For Australia, while several members have been charged under existing hate symbol laws.
