Politicians Targeted Following Anti-Nazi Stance
Two female members of parliament have reported receiving serious threats, including death threats and calls for sexual violence, after they publicly condemned a neo-Nazi rally that took place outside the New South Wales parliament on Saturday. Federal MP Allegra Spender and state MP Kellie Sloane both confirmed they had referred the threatening messages to police authorities.
Social Media Backlash
The threats began circulating after both politicians used social media platforms to denounce the demonstration, where approximately 60 men dressed in black gathered and called for the abolition of what they termed the "Jewish lobby." Speakers at the event repeated numerous antisemitic tropes during the controversial gathering.
Kellie Sloane, the NSW shadow health minister and member for Vaucluse, revealed she received dozens of "pretty hateful" messages on the platform X on Sunday. Some of these communications contained death threats that she considered serious enough to forward to law enforcement. The situation prompted her to deactivate her social media account entirely.
"I think there are a lot of keyboard cowards, and I'm a pretty resilient individual," Sloane stated during an ABC radio interview. "I won't be intimidated by them, and I won't stop speaking up about behaviour that is racist and offends the majority of decent people in New South Wales."
Explicit Threats Documented
Allegra Spender faced an even more explicit threat posted in the neo-Nazi group's Telegram channel. The message allegedly instructed: "Patriots – I bid thee to rhetorically rape Allegra Spender." Spender had previously described Saturday's rally as "appalling" and accused participants of "seeking to spread vile hatred against Jewish people."
In response to the threats, Spender emphasised that the group responsible represents "an extremely tiny group of extremist thugs who represent no one." She added that "the best of Australia is welcoming and supportive of our vibrant multicultural country."
The Australian Federal Police confirmed they had received a formal report regarding threats made against a federal MP, while NSW police have also been contacted for comment on the matter.
Government Response and Investigation
NSW Premier Chris Minns addressed the threats during a media briefing on Monday, describing them as "another example of what particularly women in public life have to put up with." He praised both politicians for their courage in speaking out and maintaining their positions on civic issues despite the intimidation attempts.
The controversy has prompted the NSW government to investigate whether the existing ban on Nazi symbols should be expanded to include Nazi speech and behaviours on Sydney streets. Minns also indicated the government seeks to "clarify and codify" regulations to ensure that approved protest applications don't provide immunity from hate speech laws.
This incident follows another rally by the same group in June, which police had authorised. The permit for that event was lodged under "White Australia" and referenced concerns about "current immigration levels and the cost of living crisis."
Police Accountability Questions
Both Premier Minns and Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon faced difficult questions about the decision-making process that allowed Saturday's rally to proceed. Commissioner Lanyon acknowledged an "internal communication error" had occurred within the police force regarding the protest approval.
The application for the neo-Nazi demonstration was approved by NSW police local area command after they chose not to reject it within the standard seven-day review period. When questioned about how high in the police command chain the Form 1 application had reached, Minns stated he didn't have that information but accepted the commissioner's assurance that senior officials weren't aware of it.
Spender characterised the situation as a "stuff up" during her radio interview, noting that "it's very unclear so far from the NSW government and also the NSW police what should have happened instead of what actually did happen."
Double Standard Allegations Addressed
The premier firmly rejected suggestions that police demonstrated a "double standard" in their handling of far-right protests compared to pro-Palestinian activism. This follows recent government and police opposition to pro-Palestine rallies at prominent Sydney landmarks including the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
Minns argued that "that would only be the case if anyone were willing to reject the fact that police have not only granted but worked with Palestine Action Group organisers for hundreds and hundreds of rallies in Sydney."
The timing of the neo-Nazi rally is particularly significant as it occurred just months after controversial new laws came into effect in August. These laws make it a crime to intentionally incite hatred against people based on their race, nationality or ethno-religious background.
The situation continues to develop as authorities investigate both the threats against the politicians and the broader implications for protest management and hate speech regulation in New South Wales.
