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Victoria’s police union has called on the state government to ban marches by neo-Nazis after a group of balaclava-clad people chanted “Australia is for the white man” through the streets of Ballarat over the weekend.
Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt said public demonstrations by neo-Nazis were “deadset crazy” but there was little police could do to stop them.
A neo-Nazi group made an unannounced walk through Ballarat on Sunday.Credit: Twitter
“Only crooks wear balaclavas down the streets of major cities,” Gatt told Channel Nine’s Today program on Monday.
“Police are limited in what they can do here. At the end of the day, if it were up to us, it would be illegal, you wouldn’t be able to do it. But it’s not; it’s up to governments to determine if they want this happening.”
Videos on social media show the National Socialist Network chanting “Australia is for the white man” and “hail victory”. They were walking in black clothes, balaclavas and sunglasses, concealing their identities.
The group reportedly posed for pictures at the Eureka Monument – Sunday was the anniversary of the Eureka Stockade – and in front of what appears to be Ballarat police station, a photo of which was posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt thinks the government should ban Nazi rallies.Credit: Luis Ascui
Gatt said police were investigating the Ballarat march but he hadn’t seen anything that looked illegal so far.
“There’s a process of investigating that and, for police to act, something actually has to be against the law,” he said.
“This is why I say, it’s at the feet of government to determine if this is what they want in their streets. Police can’t do it [ban Nazi marches].
“But you look at that, and you go, ‘this is deadset crazy’. We shouldn’t be allowing this. This isn’t 1930s in Europe. This is Australia.“
The Victorian government recently banned public displays of the Nazi swastika and Nazi salute, and has just closed its final stage of public consultation on strengthening anti-vilification laws. It will hold consultations with key groups early next year.
On Monday morning, Premier Jacinta Allan said: “These disgraceful and cowardly acts have no place in Victoria – that’s why we have banned the Nazi salute and stand ready to take further action to stamp out this disgusting behaviour.
“Ballarat is one of the birthplaces of our state’s rich multiculturalism – people came to the gold fields from every corner of the world in search of a better life.”
With Roy Ward
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