Conservative Conference by Advance Held in Sydney

A two-day conservative conference, organized by the lobby group Advance, recently took place in Darling Harbour, Sydney. The event featured discussions on topics including mass immigration, Western identity, and perceived threats to civilization. During the conference, Benjamin Harnwell, an associate of Steve Bannon, made a significant statement regarding former German Chancellor Angela Merkel's leadership.

Conference Overview

The conference, described as Advance's first national gathering, occurred on a Friday and Saturday. Speakers at the event included former Liberal Prime Minister Tony Abbott, former ABC chair Maurice Newman, Liberal senators Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Alex Antic, and Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming. Representatives from The Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) think tank also spoke. Themes discussed included the role of the family, concerns over "cultural replacement," "civilisational identity," and warnings regarding "communist plots."

Key Statements and Speakers

Benjamin Harnwell, identified as the "international editor" for Steve Bannon's War Room podcast, delivered a speech titled 'The Gladiator School: Fighting to Defend the West'. In a Q&A segment, Mr. Harnwell stated that "centre-right political parties had been 'betraying us for decades'" concerning immigration in Europe. He specifically commented on Angela Merkel's actions during Europe's 2015 refugee crisis, where over a million refugees entered Europe, making a striking comparison.

"Angela Merkel in Germany has almost single-handedly done more... She did more damage to the fabric of her country than the Nazis did, than Hitler did, 80 years ago."

He also stated, "Civilisations die by suicide and not by murder," attributing this to what he described as "sociopathic overlords" in mainstream governments. Additionally, Mr. Harnwell asserted, "There is something about Islam, in the character of Islam itself, that is oil and water when it comes to western values."

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott gave a speech titled 'Mass migration across the Anglosphere must cease'. Mr. Abbott criticized Australia's migration system, arguing that net overseas migration is not solely controlled by the elected government but is influenced by language schools, universities, and businesses.

Another international guest, Bradley Thayer, representing the American Freedom Alliance (AFA), also spoke. The Southern Poverty Law Center identifies the AFA as an Islamophobic hate group. Mr. Thayer's presentation focused on the Chinese Communist Party, which he claimed used Covid as a weapon. He suggested seizing Chinese assets and implementing "re-migration," a term used to describe mass deportations. The Department of Home Affairs declined to comment on the visa issued to a representative of an organization identified as a hate group.

Advance's Response

A spokesperson for Advance addressed Mr. Harnwell's comments concerning Ms. Merkel. The spokesperson stated, "Advance does not agree with Mr. Harnwell's opinion, which was expressed in the context of mass immigration." The spokesperson added that the organization encourages "the free flow of ideas, even those which you might find challenging or which we may disagree with," without vetting every comment.

About Advance

Advance, a lobby group founded in 2018, is registered as a significant third party with the Australian Electoral Commission. The group campaigned against the Voice to Parliament in 2023. Currently, Advance advocates for policies including banning "mass immigration" to Australia, ceasing 'welcome to country' ceremonies, and prohibiting Indigenous flags on government buildings.

In the 2024-25 period, Hancock Prospecting donated $895,000 to Advance. In 2023-24, the Cormack Foundation donated $500,000 to the group.

Future Initiatives

Advance campaign director Stephen Doyle discussed the group's long-term strategy, including 'Project Eureka'. This initiative is described as a continuous campaigning entity designed to engage younger Australians, build issue literacy, and foster structured debate outside of election cycles. Mr. Doyle also mentioned 'Advance Generations' as a strategy for long-term financial security and stated plans to target Labor's marginal seats.