Australia has revoked the visa of South African national Matthew Gruter after he was identified among a group of neo-Nazi demonstrators outside the New South Wales parliament earlier this month. Gruter, who arrived in Australia in 2022 and works as a civil engineer, was spotted standing in the front row of roughly sixty black-clad protesters carrying a banner that read “Abolish the Jewish lobby.”
The rally was led by the National Socialist Network (NSN), regarded as one of Australia’s most active neo-Nazi organisations. Local reports suggest that Gruter is a senior member of the NSN’s New South Wales division. During the demonstration, participants repeatedly chanted “blood and honour,” a phrase historically linked to the Hitler Youth and far-right movements worldwide. Although the protest was authorised and lasted less than twenty minutes, it drew immediate and widespread condemnation.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that Gruter’s visa had been cancelled, stressing that individuals on temporary visas are expected to respect Australian values. “If you are on a visa, you are a guest,” Burke said. “If a guest turns up to show hatred and wreck the household, they can be told it is time to go home.”
Australia has recently implemented stricter measures to combat far-right extremism, including mandatory prison terms for performing the Nazi salute and tighter regulations on hate symbols. A rise in extremist activity has prompted authorities to take a firm, zero-tolerance approach toward groups such as the National Socialist Network.
The revocation of Gruter’s visa stands as one of the clearest signals yet of Australia’s determination to curb extremist ideologies and safeguard public safety. Authorities say similar actions can be expected as the crackdown continues.
