The avowed Nazi who signed protest application letter to police commissioner

A four-page letter addressed to NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon outlining plans for an anti-Jewish rally outside parliament was signed by an avowed racist and neo-Nazi, according to a copy of the Form 1 application seen by the Herald.

The history of public antisemitism and racism by 28-year-old Jack Eltis – the NSW leader of the National Socialist Network (NSN) who last month called to deport “every last non-white” from Australia – raises questions as to why the protest plans were never flagged with Lanyon or senior politicians.

The miscommunication was on Monday afternoon amplified by revelations Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell was aware of the protest plans but did not relay the information to the commissioner.

Thurtell on Monday night told the Herald he had been made aware of plans for the NSN to hold its protest five days before the event, but had not relayed the briefing because he had not received any information that suggested that any aspect of the demonstration would be illegal.

“In hindsight, it was an oversight of mine not to tell the commissioner because of the organisational, political and public interest in this group, and I have since apologised to the commissioner for that oversight,” Thurtell said.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director-general Mike Burgess last week warned of an increasing likelihood that the NSN’s propaganda would “prompt spontaneous violence”. Two months ago, NSW Police assured the public that the NSN was being “constantly monitored” by officers from the engagement and hate crime unit, the state intelligence group and the counter-terrorism command.

Eltis signed his Form 1 letter on behalf of White Australia, a brand increasingly used by the NSN as it plans to register as a political party.

Outlining the proposed slogan “Abolish the Jewish Lobby”, Eltis said the event would focus on free speech issues, including new laws around protests and incitement of racial hatred. He cited a High Court case and legislation, promising the rally would not violate anti-discrimination laws, as it would not target “Jewish people as an ethnic or religious community”.

“We look forward to a safe and impactful event,” he wrote.

But the polite, deferential tone adopted in the letter was a far cry from Eltis’ public record of hateful rhetoric and the tenor of the rally itself, which criticised Jews’ position “at the head of [the] table”, promoted a highly offensive conspiracy theory and contained Hitler Youth chants, including “blood and honour”, which is banned under German law because of its connection to the Nazi party.

Lanyon was not made aware of the protest until after the Herald sent questions to NSW Police about the demonstration. He told a press conference on Saturday afternoon that, as a result of the “communication error”, he had not briefed Premier Chris Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley.

The rally had not been opposed by the Sydney City local area command, which had sought legal advice on the proposed “Abolish the Jewish lobby” banner, and Minns has suggested the government may seek to pass new laws.

According to the legal advice given to police, the wording used on the banner did not constitute an offence, and there were no legal grounds upon which to oppose the demonstration.

“What I’m disappointed about is one [protest] that was going to have so much obvious attention, is one that I would have expected to know about,” Lanyon told Sky News’ Sharri Markson on Monday night.

Legal advice was available to police attending Saturday’s rally to determine if any offences were being committed, but advisors did not attend the rally in person, Lanyon said, adding that current legislation had a “high legal test”.

“This is not what we all want to see on the streets of NSW, but as police we need to work within the legislation that actually exists,” he said.

Eltis’ unabashed racism was on display in the Sydney March for Australia rally in August, which this masthead revealed was infiltrated and organised by NSN members.

Sydney members took to the stage for an “open mic” section of the protest held at Victoria Park in Camperdown, where they led chants of “heil Australia” and “blood and honour”, the same Hitler Youth slogan used on Saturday.

“This land was built by white Australians,” Eltis told the crowd.

“You don’t have to join our organisation, but we must come back more organised, more disciplined. We have the solutions. We want to send them back. No debate. No discussion. We want to send them back to their land. This is our land. And most importantly, our organisation has the strength to do this.”

After his speech, Eltis told a reporter, “All the men in our organisation are proud to be racist.” Asked if he and other NSN and White Australia members were neo-Nazis, Eltis said, “Yes, we are national socialists.”

After March for Australia, Minns said police would examine the speeches for possible violations of new laws against the public incitement of racial hatred, which came into effect mid-August.

In a statement, NSW Police said Eltis was known to authorities, and was spoken to by officers at Saturday’s rally.

Police are reviewing Saturday’s rally for possible violations of the same laws. Police said no offences were identified by the officers in attendance on Saturday.

In September, Eltis used a public social media account to blame social problems on “Jewish power and Jewish brainwashing of our people”. In more recent messages, he attributed the NSN’s successes to “a culture of fanaticism” and stressed an absolute commitment to deporting “every last non-white” from Australia.

Eltis’ Form 1 submission ahead of the rally outside parliament said both he and another NSN leader, Joel Davis, would be speaking.

The NSN is monitored by federal agencies such as the Australian Federal Police and ASIO.

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