Thomas Sewell may currently be the prominent figure of neo-Nazism in Australia, but wherever his bald head surfaces to incite racial animosity, it’s likely that his right-hand man, Nathan Bull, will be right there beside him.

When Bull initially appeared on the far-right scene a few years back, he was a youthful provocateur with a fondness for offensive T-shirts and juvenile antics. He has since become a 23-year-old father, and that once childish grin is gone.

Sewell, leading the National Socialist Network (NSN), has long sought media attention, whereas Bull – the son of a Victorian police officer – was generally perceived as a minor young associate.

That perception changed last weekend when Bull participated in the NSN’s raid on Camp Sovereignty at Melbourne’s Kings Domain park, an Aboriginal sacred site near the Shrine of Remembrance.

Suddenly, Bull was prominently featured on news websites and TV bulletins nationwide, seen snarling through a mouthguard alongside Sewell, who seemed to be throwing a punch at someone occupying the campsite.

The encampment originated from the Black GST Movement, which advocates for ending genocide, recognizing Indigenous sovereignty, and establishing treaties with Indigenous Australians.

About 30 men dressed in black invaded Camp Sovereignty after an anti-immigration rally held under the March for Australia banner in Melbourne’s central business district on Sunday.

The intruders were filmed trampling an Aboriginal flag amid a violent scuffle in which Camp Sovereignty occupiers were allegedly punched, kicked and hit with a pole. 

Police allege the group was led by Sewell, who has been charged with 25 offences including violent disorder, affray, assault and discharging a missile after Camp Sovereignty occupiers were allegedly held down and attacked.

Footage of the fracas showed Bull apparently kicking out at one man near a campfire.  

On the other side of Bull was another NSN member holding a megaphone covered with runes considered to be symbols of Nazism. A similarly adorned device was spotted at the anti-immigration protest in Townsville last weekend.   

Bull has been charged with offences including violent disorder and affray following the incident and was granted bail by police on Tuesday night.

Following the incident, Bull’s family revealed that they had disowned him in a statement released to media.

‘From the very beginning, we made it clear that if he chose this path, we could no longer be an active part of his life. Sadly, that is the decision he made.

‘We are deeply concerned about the continued spread of misinformation and incorrect assumptions about our family.’

The statement highlighted a photo from Bull’s 21st birthday, shared by his father with the words: ‘Love you heaps and proud of what you are doing’.

The image showed him in a T-shirt bearing neo-Nazi insignia.

‘At that point, Nathan was working, engaged with his family, and we believed he was becoming a fine young man,’ the statement said.

‘Not long after, our trust in that belief was sadly shattered. His choices are his alone.’

‘We are embarrassed to see Nathan continually featured in the media and saddened by the possibility he may never leave this group,’ it said. 

Bull, from Mooroolbark, 40km east of Melbourne, has previously been photographed performing Nazi salutes on a train, outside the Adelaide Holocaust Museum and at an anti-trans protest.

On his chest, Bull has a vegvísir tattoo featuring an Icelandic symbol adopted by many neo-Nazis around the world as a sort of dog-whistle swastika. 

Bull has been noticeable for not wearing a mask – unlike most of his NSN white supremacist cronies who attend protests across Melbourne – and in his early days of activism sported a distinctive mullet.  

When Sewell interrupted Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan while she was speaking to journalists in Melbourne before he was arrested over the Camp Sovereignty disturbance on Tuesday, Bull was filming him. 

‘You’re a coward and we’re going to take this country back from politicians like you,’ Sewell shouted at Allan.

The confrontation ended with 32-year-old Sewell declaring ‘Heil Australia’ and claiming he had run into Allan by ‘coincidence’ while on his way to court. 

Before his alleged involvement in the Camp Sovereignty sortie, Sewell was already facing unrelated charges including contravening restraining orders and intimidating police.    

He was arrested again on Tuesday and applied for bail on Wednesday when Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard he was likely to kill or cause serious injury to someone if granted his freedom.

Detective Senior Constable Saer Pascoe told the court Sewell had complete control over NSN’s members – such as Bull – who would act without hesitation if he instructed them to attack their opponents. 

‘Although they present themselves as a self-political organisation, they have a documented history of hate crimes and acting with violence,’ Pascoe said. 

‘They also have a documented and recent history of violence incited and instructed by Thomas Sewell.

‘He is their leader and has complete control.

‘It’s almost certain the applicant will return to committing offences [if granted bailed]. There is a real and likely risk of serious injury or death.’

Sewell has claimed he was acting in self-defence during the Camp Sovereignty confrontation, even though images suggest one of his targets was using a closed umbrella to protect himself.

‘We had witnesses who saw these communists descend down the hill and attack small groups of patriots who were walking to their cars in twos and threes,’ Sewell said. 

Magistrate Donna Bakos denied Sewell’s bail application on Friday, finding there was a risk he would endanger the safety and welfare of the community if allowed out of jail.

Earlier this year Bull was arrested along with 15 other NSN members including Sewell after an Australia Day march in Adelaide and charged with carrying an article of disguise. 

He was released after a January 29 hearing at Adelaide Magistrates Court despite questioning a magistrate’s authority to restrict his access to the city if granted bail.

‘It’s clear that you do understand your bail conditions, but you’re questioning the court’s authority to impose them is that right? Magistrate Luke Davis asked Bull at the time.

‘Yes,’ Bull replied. ‘How are you able to displace my human rights? I have an implied right to freedom of movement and freedom of communication.’

When the case returned to court in March, Bull appeared by telephone rather than in person, fired his solicitor and revealed he would be representing himself. 

‘I wasn’t able to get there, I don’t have employment,’ he told magistrate John Clover. 

‘I don’t have the money to fly to SA.’

When asked if he had been in negotiations with prosecutors about the charge, Bull said: ‘Well, I’m not going to plead guilty.’

‘Why does it have to be negotiated?’ he said. ‘There was a case not three days ago where someone with the same charges as me was dropped.

‘Basically, I think it’s ridiculous I was arrested, put in solitary confinement and charged for having sunglasses and a hat.’

The charge against Bull were withdrawn the next month.

Bull is still facing charges including behaving in an offensive manner for allegedly booing during the Welcome to Country at the Shrine of Remembrance on Anzac Day.

In June 2023, Bull was photographed performing a Nazi salute outside the State Library of Victoria while wearing a red shirt apparently referencing the Holocaust with the words, ‘6 million’ and ‘that’s a bit much mate’.

A month earlier, he and Sewell were among neo-Nazis who fled into Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens when they were rushed by counter-protesters at an anti-immigration rally at state parliament.  

Bull is due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court over the Camp Sovereignty charges on December 10.