Australian authorities have cancelled the visa of a British national living in Queensland and placed him in immigration detention, with deportation proceedings now underway after he was charged with displaying Nazi symbols and promoting extremist ideology.
The 43-year-old man was arrested and charged earlier this month after police alleged he used a social media account to post images of the Nazi swastika, promote pro-Nazi ideology and call for violence against the Jewish community. He was taken into immigration detention in Brisbane this week and is scheduled to appear in court in January.
Australian police have intensified enforcement efforts in response to a recent rise in antisemitism and right-wing extremism across the country. Authorities say the case forms part of a broader crackdown on the use of prohibited hate symbols.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the visa cancellation, saying the government would not tolerate extremist behaviour from visa holders. “He came here to hate — he doesn’t get to stay,” Burke said in comments to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
Burke added that individuals who enter Australia on a visa do so as guests and are expected to respect the country’s laws and values. “If you come to Australia on a visa, you are here as a guest,” he said.
The case follows a similar decision last month, when Burke revoked the visa of Matthew Gruter, a South African national who had been living in Australia since 2022. Gruter’s visa was cancelled after he was seen attending a neo-Nazi rally outside the New South Wales parliament.
As with Gruter, the British man has the right to appeal the decision to revoke his visa. He may choose to leave Australia voluntarily or remain in detention pending deportation to the United Kingdom. Authorities are currently assessing whether his removal should be delayed so he can face court proceedings next month.
Earlier this year, Australia strengthened its hate crime legislation, introducing mandatory prison sentences for offences including the display of banned hate symbols and performing a Nazi salute.
Police began investigating the British man in October over alleged posts on the social media platform X. According to investigators, after the platform blocked his account, he created a new account under a similar name and continued to post offensive and harmful content.
In late November, Australian Federal Police searched the man’s home in Caboolture, on the outskirts of Brisbane. During the search, officers seized mobile phones, weapons including axes and knives, and several swords bearing swastika symbols.
The man has been charged with three counts of displaying banned Nazi symbols and one count of using the internet to cause offence.
Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said authorities are focused on preventing extremist symbols from undermining social cohesion. “We want to ensure these symbols are not being used to fracture social cohesion,” he said.
“If we identify instances where this is happening, we will act swiftly to disrupt the behaviour, prosecute those involved and protect the dignity, safety and cohesion of our diverse community.”
