An individual originally from South Africa with neo-Nazi affiliations is facing deportation from Australia following his involvement in an anti-Semitic demonstration. In the early hours, authorities conducted a raid, transferring him to a detention center.
Matthew Gruter, an engineer, participated with about 60 others associated with the National Socialist Network in a protest outside New South Wales parliament on November 9. The group chanted Nazi slogans and displayed a banner demanding the abolition of the “Jewish Lobby.”
On Monday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the revocation of Gruter’s visa due to his participation in the event.
By 4 a.m. on Tuesday, Australian Border Force officers detained Gruter at his residence, prompting his supporters to quickly establish a fundraising campaign following the visa cancellation.
A 6 a.m. update on the fundraising page stated, “Around 4 a.m., the Australian Border Force raided Matthew Gruter’s home. He was separated from his family and taken into custody, leaving his wife and their four-week-old baby with 30 days to leave the country, while Matthew remains in detention awaiting deportation.”
‘Leaving his wife and four-week-old newborn with 30 days to leave the country, whilst Matthew will be detained at a facility pending his deportation.’
Gruter is reportedly being held at Villawood Detention Centre, in the city’s west.
Mr Burke confirmed the raid during a press conference in Perth on Tuesday morning.
Matthew Gruter (pictured) was one of 60 demonstrators tied to a neo-Nazi protest outside NSW parliament on November 9
An Australia Border Force spokesperson said ‘the Department cannot comment on individual cases’.
‘All non-citizens who wish to travel to, enter or remain in Australia must satisfy the requirements of the Migration Act 1958 (the Act) and the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Regulations), including identity, health, character and security requirements,’ they said.
‘The Australian Government is committed to protecting the Australian community from the risk of harm posed by non-citizens who engage in criminal conduct or behaviour of concern.’
An online fundraiser, which lists Matthew Gruter as its creator, has so far raised more than $16,000.
Some donors have left comments reiterating Nazi rhetoric, including ‘HH’ (a National Socialist Network abbreviation of Hail Hitler) and ‘stay strong white man’.
In announcing the government’s ruling on Monday, Mr Burke said: ‘If you are on a visa, you are a guest.’
‘If you’re a citizen, you’re a full member of the Australian family,’ he said.
‘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.’
NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed the government would aim to establish new laws to crack down on hate speech in the wake of the rally (pictured)
He added on Tuesday: ‘(We’re) not only confident of our legal position, but also confident of the values of this country.’
‘We are a decent, welcoming country, and the sort of hatred that was involved in that protest has nothing to do with Australia.’
The protest drew intense criticism, with NSW Premier Chris Minns labelling those involved ‘pissants’ and flagging another tightening of protest laws in response.
Police said a communication error within the force resulted in some top cops – including Commissioner Mal Lanyon – not being aware the protest was taking place.
Mr Minns has since confirmed the government would aim to establish new laws to crack down on hate speech.
The NSN rallied outside NSW parliament in June, when participants wore black uniforms and displayed a banner with the words ‘End Immigration’.
Numerous protests involving NSN members have been staged in capital cities and towns over the past couple of years. In September, members of the group marched at anti-immigration rallies in Sydney and Melbourne.
The fringe group has ramped up efforts to form a political party in an effort to creep into the mainstream, which would require 750 members to join the party to formally register.
Mr Minns questioned if that would happen, given it would require those members to publicly associate their name with neo-Nazism.
