A British national in Australia has had his visa cancelled and faces deportation for allegedly displaying Nazi symbols.
The 43-year-old man living in Queensland was arrested and charged earlier this month, after allegedly using a social media account to post the Nazi swastika, promote pro-Nazi ideology, and call for violence towards the Jewish community.
The man was taken into immigration detention this week in Brisbane and is due to face court in January. Police have been cracking down on the use of prohibited symbols amid a recent rise in antisemitism and right-wing extremism.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said: He came here to hate - he doesn't get to stay. If you come to Australia on a visa, you are here as a guest, Burke emphasized.
Last month, Burke revoked the visa of a South African national who had attended a neo-Nazi rally. Like him, the British man can appeal his visa revocation and choose to leave voluntarily or await deportation. Police are considering whether to delay the deportation to ensure he can face court.
Australia has recently tightened its hate crime laws, introducing mandatory jail terms for displaying hate symbols or performing Nazi salutes. The British man's case came under investigation following social media posts that led to the blocking of his account. He attempted to evade this by creating a new account with similar content.
Authorities searched his home in Caboolture in late November, seizing phones, weapons, and several swords adorned with swastika symbols. He was charged with three counts of displaying banned Nazi symbols and one count of using the internet to cause offense.
Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt stated, We want to ensure these symbols are not being used to fracture social cohesion, reaffirming the government's commitment to ensuring the safety and dignity of all communities.
