The Australian federal government has introduced new legislation aimed at designating organizations as prohibited hate groups, making membership or support a criminal offense. In response, the National Socialist Network (NSN) announced its intention to disband, citing the proposed laws, while Hizb ut-Tahrir stated it would not confirm disbandment and asserted its activities are rooted in Islamic principles.
Proposed Hate Group Legislation
The federal government has introduced new legislation designed to simplify the process for designating organizations as prohibited hate groups. The proposed laws, released publicly on Tuesday and expected to be debated in federal parliament next week, follow the Bondi terror attack.
Under the new legislation, once an organization is designated, engaging in activities such as membership, recruiting, providing or receiving training, funding, or offering support to the group would become criminal offenses. Penalties for these offenses could include imprisonment for up to 15 years.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke identified two groups as targets of the proposed legislation: Hizb ut-Tahrir and the National Socialist Network.
Responses from Targeted Groups
National Socialist Network (NSN)
The neo-Nazi group, the National Socialist Network (NSN), announced its decision to disband. In a statement released on Telegram, the group declared that the closure of NSN would also lead to the cessation of affiliated "co-projects," including White Australia, the European Australian Movement, and the White Australia Party. The statement, signed by leader Thomas Sewell and other figures, indicated that the disbandment is intended to occur before the new laws take effect, with operations ceasing by Sunday, to prevent former members from facing arrest and charges.
Hizb ut-Tahrir
Spokesperson Wassim Doureihi stated that Hizb ut-Tahrir is "neither hateful nor violent" and described it as "a set of ideas rooted in Islam." Doureihi asserted that the government "cannot ban" the group's ideas unless it proposes to ban Islam itself. He did not confirm if the group would disband, emphasizing its "unimpeachable record" of "principled activism" over 70 years.
Official Statements and Expert Analysis
Minister Burke acknowledged the NSN's disbandment announcement and stated that efforts to combat bigotry are ongoing, emphasizing continued actions such as the deportation of individuals and the disbanding of groups that promote hatred. He stated that organizations identified as posing risks to Australia would no longer be able to operate just below legal thresholds, referencing previous concerns from ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess about the harm these groups pose to national security.
Extremism expert Josh Roose characterized the NSN's announcement as an attempt to avoid formal proscription and suggested the group might be seeking to shift focus, potentially to forming a political party. Dr. Roose advocated for the government to proceed with proscribing the group and its members to prevent further organization. Opposition home affairs spokesperson Jonno Duniam urged the government to ensure that such groups cannot circumvent the proposed laws by rebranding. NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley welcomed the news, stating a desire for such groups not to operate in the community.
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess informed a parliamentary hearing that Hizb ut-Tahrir was "driving permission for violence" in its rhetoric concerning Israel. Doureihi dismissed this statement as "propaganda."
Background on Targeted Groups
National Socialist Network (NSN)
The National Socialist Network has previously indicated plans to form a political party and had arranged a national gathering in Sydney. In November, approximately 60 men participated in a protest organized by NSN outside the NSW parliament. Affiliates of the group have been involved in incidents including an attack on a First Nations protest camp. Additionally, Matthew Gruter's visa was revoked after his participation in a protest, and NSN member Joel Davis was arrested on charges related to allegedly inviting harm against a public official.
Hizb ut-Tahrir
Hizb ut-Tahrir has been subject to various controversies. It is listed as a proscribed terrorist organization in the UK and banned in Pakistan and Indonesia. In 2015, one of its leaders reportedly called for a "Muslim army in Australia" to impose sharia law, and the group was criticized in the same year for defending a Muslim man seeking to marry a 12-year-old girl. The Lindt cafe siege gunman, Man Haron Monis, had attended the group's events. Reports from a November conference claimed the group advocated for a Muslim state, which Doureihi denied as "false and sensationalist propaganda." Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has previously referred to the group as "un-Australian" and "un-Islamic."