‘Time to go home’: Neo-Nazi who rallied outside NSW Parliament has his visa cancelled

The federal government has cancelled the visa of a neo-Nazi who took part in an antisemitic rally outside NSW Parliament, declaring on Monday there was no room in Australia for guests who “show hatred”.

Civil engineer Matthew Gruter, one of 60-odd black clad neo-Nazis who staged a made-for-social-media rally outside parliament on November 9, could soon be forced to return to South Africa, following the visa decision. He has been living in Australia with his influencer wife for about three years.

“If you are on a visa you are a guest,” Immigration Minister Tony Burke said. “If you’re a citizen, you’re a full member of the Australian family.

“Like with any household, if a guest turns up to show hatred and wreck the household, they can be told it’s time to go home.”

The Department of Home Affairs had prepared a brief for the Albanese government to consider Gruter’s visa status after his identity was revealed by this masthead and anti-fascist researchers with the White Rose Society.

“The Australian government will continue to act decisively to protect the community from the risk of harm posed by individuals who choose to engage in criminal activity or behaviour of concern,” a Home Affairs spokesman said in a statement.

Gruter had been previously photographed leading training sessions for the National Socialist Network, an openly racist extremist group that has caught the attention of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. In photographs with his pregnant wife, he was spotted wearing a silver wristband reserved for the group’s leaders, inscribed with the Hitler Youth slogan “blood and honour”.

Multinational company Aurecon, which has been contracted by the Australian Defence Force and government agencies, did not respond to questions last week about whether Gruter remained employed by the company.

When the Herald contacted Gruter about his involvement in the rally, he responded: “Since when is loving and advocating for your own People [sic] a crime?”

The Home Affairs website states that those with cancelled visas may have a limited time to leave Australia. Those who stay on risk immigration detention and removal from the country.

Visa cancellations may be challenged either through the Administrative Review Tribunal or the courts system.

The Herald has revealed the identities of a number of NSN members who took part in the “Abolish the Jewish Lobby” stunt held outside parliament.

They include Sydney Trains guard Cooper Stephens, who has since been stood down pending the results of an investigation, and Oscar Tuckfield, who infiltrated the NSW Young Nationals with other neo-Nazis in 2018.

Participants in the Parliament House rally did not wear masks, although many chose to partially obscure their identities with dark sunglasses and hats. In social media posts about the group’s activities, most of their faces have been blurred.

The rally has ignited debate within NSW about the adequacy of the state’s new laws against inciting racial hatred and concerns about the group’s plans to register a White Australia political party.

NSW Police are still considering whether to charge participants in the protest, which was approved after the force declined to lodge an objection with the courts.

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