Neo-Nazi Gatherings

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:35): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Attorney-General on the topic of Neo-Nazi gatherings.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: On 26 January this year, a group of self-described Neo-Nazis assembled at the War Memorial on North Terrace before marching down North Terrace chanting slogans like 'Australia for the white man, the rest must go,' and 'White man fight back.' In promotions for this gathering the group identified as the National Socialist Network (the NSN) made it clear that their aim was to disrupt and intimidate those attending the annual Survival Day Rally.

Following the arrest of several of these Neo-Nazis, it was revealed that most of them had come from interstate and had travelled to South Australia for the specific purpose of attending this rally and other NSN events. My questions to the Attorney-General therefore are:

1. Was the Attorney-General briefed by SAPOL in regard to the potential gathering of these NSN members and, if so, when?

2. What measures are being considered to prevent this sort of terror on tour from occurring again?

3. Will the government be considering listing the NSN as a declared organisation under the Serious and Organised Crime (Control) Act 2008 to prohibit their gathering?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (15:37): I thank the honourable member for her questions. In relation to her first question about briefings, I have regular briefings with the police commissioner and I am sure the honourable member will understand that I won't go into the nature and details of the briefings I have with the police commissioner. However, I do know that our officers in SAPOL have regular contact with their federal counterparts to understand what threats we may be facing in South Australia.

The honourable member has talked about the gathering that occurred on Sunday 26 January where I am advised 16 members were arrested and charged with various offences, including a new offence that only came into operation last year of displaying a Nazi symbol. I am informed that other charges include carrying an offensive weapon or article of disguise and failing to cease loitering. My advice is that of those 16 members, 15 individuals were from interstate.

I want to be very, very clear here that it is my view and the government's view that there is no tolerance for these sorts of actions in our society today. These groups peddle hate and intolerance, which is completely and utterly out of step with the inclusive multicultural society that I am very proud to live in, in South Australia.

We will do everything that we can in relation to listing as serious and organised crime organisations, or any other power that we have, and we will look to see if they can be applied. Outlaw motorcycle gangs are much more easy to regulate than some other groups because they have a much more structured membership and initiation procedures, etc., to make it very easy for police to prove in court that they are members of an organisation—but we will continue those discussions.

I also know that there has been a national cabinet meeting on antisemitism held in recent weeks where a national database of people who have these sorts of extremist views is being looked to be set up, as are all attorneys-general from around Australia tasked with looking at exactly the issues that the honourable member has referred to. I am very pleased that this chamber and this parliament have already passed banning Nazi symbols in South Australia. That was able to be used and given effect to with these disgusting protests.