Neo-Nazism and far-right extremism have made headlines recently in Australia, raising questions about the growing presence of white supremacy and antisemitism in the country.
From rallies in Adelaide to Nazi salutes in Melbourne, the movement is becoming more visible, prompting politicians to push for tougher penalties against those displaying support for the ideology.
But what does a modern-day Australian neo-Nazi look like?
Dr Kaz Ross, an Independent Researcher into the far-right, said that the stereotype of a tattooed, shaved-head man eager for a fight no longer fits the profile.
“[It] could be anybody, it could be your dentist, it could be your training at the gym, could be somebody in your office,” Dr Ross said.
He said that individuals are often recruited through online communities, making it harder to spot them based on appearance alone.
“They basically see Hitler as the greatest man that ever lived and as the leader of the Neo Nazis in Australia has said recently, there are two great men in history, Jesus Christ and Adolf Hitler,” he said.
The modern Australian neo-Nazi movement is part of a global trend, blending European Nazi ideology with Australia’s own history of white supremacy and colonialism.
Groups like the National Socialist Network and the Antipodean Resistance are adapting old far-right ideas to the current era, even recruiting through fitness groups and “tribe-building” activities.
“Their idea is that anybody who’s not white needs to leave Australia, and that starts with international students, asylum seekers, people who are on working visas.”
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