QResear.ch

#21755143 at 2024-10-13 03:40:09 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #37: EVERYTHING IS AT STAKE Edition

#36 - Part 62
Australian Politics and Society - Part 38
>>21734026 Indigenous leaders slam 'disrespectful' Fatima Payman's choice of party name, Australia's Voice - Furious Indigenous leaders have slammed Fatima Payman for claiming and rebadging the voice for her own political brand, as the former Labor senator refused to outline policies or reveal candidates. Senator Payman's announcement on Wednesday that she would lead a breakaway political party named Australia's Voice has angered some of Australia's most distinguished Indigenous figures, who are in solemn reflection over the defeat of the voice referendum a year ago on Monday. Uluru Dialogue co-chair Megan Davis, a Cobble Cobble woman and constitutional expert who worked on the voice process for 12 years, described Senator Payman's announcement on Wednesday as "curious timing given it's the anniversary of the referendum and many of our people are still grieving". Four months since she crossed the floor to vote for Palestinian statehood, the West Australian senator launched the Australia's Voice party in Canberra where she saying her policy platforms would "come with time". In a later interview on ABC, she described Palestinian recognition as overdue. Indigenous entrepreneur Sean Gordon, who joined fellow political conservatives in supporting the Indigenous voice through the Uphold & Recognise collective, said he saw the name of the new party as part of persistent and wrong-headed efforts to link the Indigenous rights movement with pro-Palestinian activism. "The use of the term 'voice' by Fatima Payman for her new political party is a further attempt by the pro-Palestinian movement to leverage of the back of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people," Mr Gordon said. "This is no different to the pro-Palestinian movement who drowned out our voices on Australia Day early this year."
>>21734044 Far-right extremist Jacob Hersant to be jailed for Nazi salute but length of sentence still to be determined - The first person found guilty of performing the Nazi salute in Victoria will be sentenced to jail. Far-right extremist Jacob Hersant was found guilty on Tuesday of performing the gesture last year, after a magistrate rejected his argument the laws were constitutionally invalid. The 25-year-old was the first Victorian charged with performing the Nazi salute in October 2023, just six days after new legislation banning the gesture came into effect. This morning, Magistrate Brett Sonnet found the only "appropriate sentencing order" was a term of imprisonment, but said he was not yet in a position to determine the length of the sentence. The offence carries a maximum penalty of $24,000 or 12 months' jail. Hersant walked from court today after the magistrate allowed him to remain in the community until sentencing in four weeks' time. Outside the court, Hersant told reporters he had no regrets about the conviction. His associates, including prominent neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell, made anti-Semitic comments as they left. During today's hearing, Prosecutor Daniel Gurvich KC argued Hersant's prospects of rehabilitation were "poor to non-existent", and said his performance of the Nazi salute was "calculated to achieve maximum impact". "Public expression of Nazi symbols are an assault against human dignity and representative of hatred and prejudice that have no place in Victoria," Mr Gurvich said.

#21755142 at 2024-10-13 03:39:47 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #37: EVERYTHING IS AT STAKE Edition

#36 - Part 61
Australian Politics and Society - Part 37
>>21729841 Video: Jacob Hersant: First man charged after Victoria banned Nazi salute found guilty - The first man charged after Victoria banned public Nazi salutes has been found guilty after a court tossed out his argument the law was constitutionally invalid. Jacob Hersant, 25, was charged with performing the banned gesture in October last year just days after the state outlawed the public demonstration. The young father had attended the County Court for an unrelated criminal matter on October 27, throwing his arm up in front of media and saying: "Australia for the white man, heil Hitler." The footage, which was played in court, showed Hersant raising his right arm at about a 90-degree angle before quickly pulling it down. "Oh, nearly did it, it's illegal now isn't it," he said. On Tuesday, Hersant returned before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court supported by his mother where magistrate Brett Sonnet found him guilty of the salute. Outside of court, Hersant was unrepentant, saying people can be offended by his actions but he has a "right to express myself politically". "I don't feel shame for giving a political salute because those are my beliefs," he said. "I do give the Nazi salute and I am a Nazi." Hersant told media he was not worried about the prospect of jail, saying if he had to "suffer" for his cause he was willing. But he also flagged he may appeal the ruling. "I continue to be a national socialist, I'll continue to give the salute but hopefully police officers don't see it," he said.
>>21729862 Video: First person found guilty of Nazi salute as court upholds Victoria's new ban - The first Victorian charged with performing the Nazi salute has been found guilty after a magistrate rejected his argument that the case was constitutionally invalid. Magistrate Brett Sonnet shot down 25-year-old Jacob Hersant's bid for immunity after he was captured on news cameras performing a version of the Nazi salute outside the County Court just days after legislation banning the act took effect. "Australia for the white man, heil Hitler, heil Hitler," Hersant was captured saying after the act. Outside court, an unrepentant Hersant vowed to continue performing the Nazi salute, and told the media he was prepared to go to jail to further his political views. Hersant said he felt no regret or shame for performing the salute in public, and revealed he performed the gesture at home every day. He also flagged the possibility of an appeal against his conviction. Other men have since been charged with the same offence, including neo-Nazi Nathan Bull, who is accused of performing the Nazi salute at Carlton's Cinema Nova on March 9. During a hearing for Bull last month, the court heard the future of his prosecution would likely ride on the magistrate's decision in Hersant's case. In June, a NSW magistrate convicted three Croatian soccer fans who made a Nazi salute during the 2022 Australia Cup final. Magistrate Joy Boulos found beyond reasonable doubt that the three men had "deliberately and intentionally" performed the Nazi salute in rejecting their arguments the hand gesture was a symbol of Croatian national pride. The men were each fined $500 and convicted after being found guilty of one count of publicly displaying a Nazi symbol without reasonable excuse.
>>21734013 Former Labor Senator Fatima Payman announces 'Australia's Voice' party ahead of upcoming federal election - Former Labor Senator Fatima Payman has officially announced the formation of her new political party, "Australia's Voice". The announcement has come just months after Ms Payman's controversial departure from the Labor Party over her pro-Palestine position regarding the Middle East conflict. Launching the party from Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday, Ms Payman articulated her vision of creating a platform for "disenfranchised" Australians. "It is with great humility and deep responsibility that I announce the formation of Australia's Voice, a new political party for the disenfranchised," she told reporters. "We can no longer sit by while our voices are drowned out by the same old politics. It's time to stand up, to rise together and to take control of our future." Despite the passionate rhetoric, the 29-year-old Senator did not unveil any specific policies and declared the party's platform would "come in time". When pressed about her party's ideological stance, Ms Payman insisted, "This is a party for all Australians". "It's not going to be an easy task... but we need to capture everyone's concerns and make sure that they've got a voice here in Canberra," she said. It was not clear how she would be able to simultaneously represent the concerns of conflicting groups such as Jewish and Muslim organisations or coal and climate lobbies.

#21734044 at 2024-10-09 10:00:42 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #37: EVERYTHING IS AT STAKE Edition

>>21729841
>>21729862
Far-right extremist Jacob Hersant to be jailed for Nazi salute but length of sentence still to be determined

Leanne Wong - 9 October 2024

The first person found guilty of performing the Nazi salute in Victoria will be sentenced to jail.

Far-right extremist Jacob Hersant was found guilty on Tuesday of performing the gesture last year, after a magistrate rejected his argument the laws were constitutionally invalid.

The 25-year-old was the first Victorian charged with performing the Nazi salute in October 2023, just six days after new legislation banning the gesture came into effect.

This morning, Magistrate Brett Sonnet found the only "appropriate sentencing order" was a term of imprisonment, but said he was not yet in a position to determine the length of the sentence.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of $24,000 or 12 months' jail.

Hersant walked from court today after the magistrate allowed him to remain in the community until sentencing in four weeks' time.

Outside the court, Hersant told reporters he had no regrets about the conviction.

His associates, including prominent neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell, made anti-Semitic comments as they left.

During today's hearing, Prosecutor Daniel Gurvich KC argued Hersant's prospects of rehabilitation were "poor to non-existent", and said his performance of the Nazi salute was "calculated to achieve maximum impact".

"Public expression of Nazi symbols are an assault against human dignity and representative of hatred and prejudice that have no place in Victoria," Mr Gurvich said.

But Hersant's defence lawyer Timothy Smartt argued his client was a "supportive partner" and "fantastic father" to his two-year-old son.

He told the court Hersant enjoyed writing poetry - even taking part in a recent poetry competition.

Mr Smartt denied the poetry involved far-right themes, after being asked by the magistrate.

"So in a sense your client is a modern-day version of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde," Magistrate Sonnet said.

Lawyers for Hersant seek fine instead of jail

Mr Smartt acknowledged Hersant's views were "seriously concerning" but argued he was better than his "worst deeds".

"He's not the first young person to have extreme political views and he's not the last," Mr Smartt said.

He requested the court impose a $1,500 fine.

But during today's hearing, Magistrate Sonnet said "powerful" mitigating factors for Hersant's sentence were missing, citing his lack of remorse, his absence of guilty plea and his criminal history.

On Tuesday, after being found guilty, Hersant told reporters he would continue to perform the Nazi salute - just not in front of police.

Hersant was outside the County Court last year, having just been sentenced for another offence, when he raised his arm and made a salute in front of journalists.

He quickly lowered his arm and said: "Oh, nearly did it, it's illegal now isn't it?"

As he walked away, Hersant called out: "Australia for the white man, heil Hitler."

On Tuesday after finding Hersant guilty, Magistrate Sonnet said Hersant knowingly performed the salute, which he described as "an inherently political act" intertwined with Nazi ideology.

The magistrate said laws were necessary to protect vulnerable minority communities.

In a summary read out to the court, the magistrate said he rejected arguments from Hersant's lawyers that the laws were in breach of the constitution.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-09/Jacob-Hersant-nazi-salute-sentence/104448256

#21729862 at 2024-10-08 10:24:06 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #37: EVERYTHING IS AT STAKE Edition

>>21729841
First person found guilty of Nazi salute as court upholds Victoria's new ban

Erin Pearson - October 8, 2024

The first Victorian charged with performing the Nazi salute has been found guilty after a magistrate rejected his argument that the case was constitutionally invalid.

Magistrate Brett Sonnet shot down 25-year-old Jacob Hersant's bid for immunity after he was captured on news cameras performing a version of the Nazi salute outside the County Court just days after legislation banning the act took effect.

"Australia for the white man, heil Hitler, heil Hitler," Hersant was captured saying after the act.

Outside court, an unrepentant Hersant vowed to continue performing the Nazi salute, and told the media he was prepared to go to jail to further his political views.

Hersant said he felt no regret or shame for performing the salute in public, and revealed he performed the gesture at home every day. He also flagged the possibility of an appeal against his conviction.

"I don't feel shame for giving a political salute, no. Those are my beliefs. I am a national socialist, I will remain a national socialist," Hersant said.

"I'll still continue to give the salute ... hopefully police officers won't see it."

Hersant was the first Victorian charged with performing a Nazi salute, six days after it was outlawed in October 2023, in a test case for the new legislation.

Hersant fronted Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Tuesday where Sonnet found he had performed the act with the requisite intention.

During the hearing, the Nazi salute was compared to hailing a taxi or raising a hand in a classroom by lawyers.

Defence lawyer Timothy Smartt has argued the offence was constitutionally invalid as the Nazi salute was a legitimate form of political expression.

Sonnet found Hersant performed the Nazi gesture or an act that resembled it, intentionally, and altered the gesture in an attempt to avoid a criminal charge.

Sonnet said the legislation banning the act was legally valid and designed to protect minority groups from harm.

He said the salute was intertwined with Nazi ideology and its banning was compatible with the constitution.

Others in court included lawyers for police and the Victorian attorney-general's office.

Hersant, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, sat in the front row of the courtroom on Tuesday next to his mother.

Other men have since been charged with the same offence, including neo-Nazi Nathan Bull, who is accused of performing the Nazi salute at Carlton's Cinema Nova on March 9.

During a hearing for Bull last month, the court heard the future of his prosecution would likely ride on the magistrate's decision in Hersant's case.

In June, a NSW magistrate convicted three Croatian soccer fans who made a Nazi salute during the 2022 Australia Cup final.

Magistrate Joy Boulos found beyond reasonable doubt that the three men had "deliberately and intentionally" performed the Nazi salute in rejecting their arguments the hand gesture was a symbol of Croatian national pride.

The men were each fined $500 and convicted after being found guilty of one count of publicly displaying a Nazi symbol without reasonable excuse.

Premier Jacinta Allan, speaking from a school in Mount Waverley as Sonnet's judgment was handed down, said Hersant's conviction demonstrated that her government and the entire parliament had taken "very, very strong action" to outlaw the Nazi salute.

"It should be prosecuted. It has been. We have the powers and tools here in Victoria to stamp out that hateful behaviour," Allan said.

Dvir Abramovich, the chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, said the magistrate's decision was a "historic and thundering day for justice and decency".

"I am moved beyond words and filled with a profound sense of relief. Today, Victoria shines a little brighter," Abramovich said.

"This is not just a legal victory - it is a moral triumph that belongs to every individual who has suffered under the weight of oppression, and it belongs to every person who has ever felt threatened and targeted by this vile display of hate."

In Victoria, the offence carries maximum penalties of more than $23,000 or 12 months' jail, or both, for anyone who intentionally displays or performs a Nazi symbol or gesture in public.

Hersant is yet to be sentenced and will return to court on Wednesday.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/nazi-salute-ban-upheld-after-court-fight-20241008-p5kgk2.html

#21729841 at 2024-10-08 10:14:55 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #37: EVERYTHING IS AT STAKE Edition

>>21308692
Jacob Hersant: First man charged after Victoria banned Nazi salute found guilty

LIAM BEATTY - 8 October 2024

The first man charged after Victoria banned public Nazi salutes has been found guilty after a court tossed out his argument the law was constitutionally invalid.

Jacob Hersant, 25, was charged with performing the banned gesture in October last year just days after the state outlawed the public demonstration.

The young father had attended the County Court for an unrelated criminal matter on October 27, throwing his arm up in front of media and saying: "Australia for the white man, heil Hitler."

The footage, which was played in court, showed Hersant raising his right arm at about a 90-degree angle before quickly pulling it down.

"Oh, nearly did it, it's illegal now isn't it," he said.

On Tuesday, Hersant returned before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court supported by his mother where magistrate Brett Sonnet found him guilty of the salute.

The court was told Hersant's lawyer, Tim Smart, had disputed that his client actually performed a Nazi salute and raised a secondary argument that the law was invalid.

He argued the law infringed the implied right for free political communication.

Both arguments were struck down by Mr Sonnet who found Hersant intentionally performed the salute and the purpose of the law, to protect minority groups, did not manifestly outweigh the impact on political communication.

"In short the act captured plainly demonstrates the gesture so clearly resembling a Nazi salute," he said.

"As a result your client has been found guilty."

Mr Sonnet only read out a brief summary of his 184 page judgement, which he said would be published online later this week.

Hersant will return to court on Wednesday for a plea hearing and faces a maximum penalty of 12 months imprisonment and a $23,000 fine.

Outside of court, Hersant was unrepentant, saying people can be offended by his actions but he has a "right to express myself politically".

"I don't feel shame for giving a political salute because those are my beliefs," he said.

"I do give the Nazi salute and I am a Nazi."

Hersant told media he was not worried about the prospect of jail, saying if he had to "suffer" for his cause he was willing.

But he also flagged he may appeal the ruling.

I continue to be a national socialist, I'll continue to give the salute but hopefully police officers don't see it," he said.

Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich, who campaigned for criminal penalties for the Nazi salute, hailed the judgement as a "historic and thundering day for justice and decency".

This verdict is a blow to the solar plexus of a resurgent and dangerous neo-Nazi movement in Australia," he said.

"The Magistrate's Court has sent the unmistakable message that the Nazi salute must never return to our streets, and this decision means that no one in this state should have to live in fear of seeing this expression of absolute inhumanity."

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/Jacob-Hersant-first-man-charged-after-victoria-banned-nazi-salute-found-guilty/news-story/2b15205bca50045e7f0d0102c4569021

https://qresear.ch/?q=Jacob+Hersant

#20545555 at 2024-03-10 08:35:35 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #34: UNITED AGAINST THE INVISIBLE ENEMY OF ALL HUMANITY Edition

#34 - Part 15
Australian Politics and Society - Part 8
>>20316869 Kevin Rudd's embarrassing Trump U-turn as Albo's US Ambassador is made to eat his own words - with President's shock re-election victory now looming - He's branded Donald Trump 'nuts' and labelled him the 'most destructive president in history'. But former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, now Australia's US ambassador, is desperately trying to build bridges with Trump's team ahead of the ex-President's possible re-election in November.
>>20322542 Video: PM Anthony Albanese booed at the Australian Open men's final - During the closing ceremony, as presenter Todd Woodbridge welcomed the Prime Minister on behalf of Tennis Australia, the atmosphere took an uncomfortable shift. The 15,000-strong audience erupted in vociferous boos, drowning out Woodbridge's speech and persisting through the introductions of other VIP attendees.
>>20322581 Anthony Albanese's security pact with Tuvalu 'at risk' - Anthony Albanese's much-vaunted "Falepili Union" security pact with Tuvalu is on shaky ground following the fall of the country's prime minister, Kausea Natano, who lost his seat in the country's general election over the weekend.
>>20322618 Army Taipan helicopters stripped, but Ukraine undeterred - Pictures have emerged online of the dismantled remains of some of the Australian Army's MRH-90 Taipan helicopters, in a further blow to Ukraine which had hoped to take the aircraft.
>>20328447 Accused Fijian torturer Colonel Penioni (Ben) Naliva to command ADF troops - A senior Fijian military officer allegedly responsible for human rights abuses and torture has been appointed as deputy commander of the Australian Army's 7th Brigade, amid claims the Australian government has turned a blind eye in its bid to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific.
>>20334181 Crisis talks over torture accused soldier Colonel Penioni (Ben) Naliva - The Albanese government is in crisis talks with the Fijian government on the future of a senior ?Fijian military officer allegedly responsible for human rights abuses and torture who has been appointed as deputy commander of the Australian Army's 7th Brigade.

>>20339499 Video: Former Fijian MP Sam Speight reveals torture by 7th Brigade Colonel Ben Naliva - Sam Speight has lived in exile from his country for more than a decade, having been forced to flee his beloved Fiji after being beaten and tortured, he claims, by the man the Albanese government has chosen to be deputy commander of 3500 Australian troops.
>>20339527 Ex-NSW premier's son Daniel Keneally guilty of fabricating evidence - The son of former NSW premier Kristina Keneally has broken down as he avoided prison after he was last year found guilty of fabricating a statement that wrongfully landed a man behind bars.
>>20339566 Players' passports, contracts exposed in Football Australia data leak - Australian soccer players have had their passports, contracts and other personal information leaked online in a cybersecurity incident that has potentially also affected every local customer or fan, researchers say. Football Australia leaked secret keys online, giving public access to more than 100 buckets of data including players' personal documents and contracts, according to Cybernews, an independent cybersecurity research publication. The researchers said the leak, which was likely due to human error and not a cyberattack, included players' passport details along with customers' ticket purchase information, and internal infrastructure details.
>>20339611 Video: 'You win, you run this city': Death threats force FriendlyJordies to remove video - Ongoing death threats have led to political commentator and YouTube satirist Jordan Shanks, known online as FriendlyJordies, taking down a YouTube video. "You win. We're taking down the video," said Shanks in a statement posted on his website. "Congratulations. You run this city."
>>20344843 White supremacist Jacob Hersant to involve nation's top lawmakers in Nazi salute case - A white supremacist who was first to be charged with performing a Nazi salute in Victoria plans to drag the nation's top lawmakers into his legal case. The Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday heard neo-Nazi Jacob Hersant, 24, required an adjournment of his matter due to a related "constitutional argument".
>>20344860 Australian crime fighters to get better access to social media accounts - Australian law enforcement agencies tackling terrorism, child sex abuse and other transnational crimes will get sweeping access to electronic data held in the US by the likes of Microsoft and Meta under a landmark deal between the Albanese government and the Biden administration.

#20545547 at 2024-03-10 08:32:48 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #34: UNITED AGAINST THE INVISIBLE ENEMY OF ALL HUMANITY Edition

#34 - Part 12
Australian Politics and Society - Part 5
>>20244542 The Queen made in Australia - A highly emotional King Frederik X has acceded to the Danish throne, sealing the special moment with a kiss with his wife, Australian-born Queen Mary.
>>20251136 Workforce crisis threatens to put two more Anzac frigates out of service - Defence is looking at mothballing up to two more of the navy's frontline Anzac-class frigates as crippling crew shortages undermine the nation's military capabilities.
>>20251146 Man facing jail over alleged Nazi salute says he still performs it daily - Prominent Melbourne white supremacist Jacob Hersant has responded to allegations he performed the Nazi salute just days after it was outlawed in Victoria, saying he does not regret it - even if it means spending time behind bars.
>>20257321 "This message needs to be viewed by every Australian; and every Australian needs to stand up for Australia .. We've bent over to appease the Aussie-haters long enough. I'm taking a stand. ?I'm standing up because of the hundreds of thousands who died fighting in wars for this country, and for the Australian flag." - Bob Katter
>>20261652 Grounded Taipan helicopters already stripped for parts, Australia tells Ukraine - Australia has refused Ukraine's request to donate its retired fleet of Taipan helicopters, saying it is not feasible to return them to flying condition. In a blow to Ukraine's bid to bolster its air defences, Australia's 45 Taipan MRH-90 aircraft will instead continue to be dismantled, stripped for spare parts and then buried in an undisclosed defence site.
>>20261661 Wieambilla shooting: Donald Day Jr allegedly had buckets of ammunition and threatened FBI agents, US court told - A US conspiracy theorist linked to the Wieambilla shooters allegedly held a significant stockpile of weaponry, including five-gallon buckets of ammunition, and made threats to kill five FBI agents, telling them he would "come for every f*cking one of you", court documents reveal.
>>20272208 Video: Alleged Russian gangster charged after $1m cash, explosives seized in Melbourne - An alleged member of a Russian organised crime gang and two other men have been charged after explosives, firearms and $1 million in illicit cash were seized by police.

>>20281751 Voice architect Tom Calma leads call for Australia's first Indigenous governor-general - One of the nation's most respected Indigenous rights campaigners, Tom Calma, has backed in the appointment of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person to be the next governor-general, with the King's current representative - David Hurley - due to wind up his five-year term by the middle of this year.
>>20281763 Cricket Australia to honour First Nations people on Australia Day - CA is keen to promote inclusivity and respect from patrons regardless of their view on the date itself, which is widely viewed as a day of mourning by First Nations people.
>>20281774 NSW Premier Chris Minns urges Cricket Australia to 'revisit' decision to sidestep Australia Day celebrations - Mr Minns questioned Cricket Australia's decision, saying it was "extremely strange". "This is a day for us all to celebrate with your family and friends, recognise that we live in the greatest country on Earth. I definitely will be doing that," he told 2GB.
>>20281784 Victorian Coalition withdraws Aboriginal treaty support, citing cultural heritage concerns - The Shadow Aboriginal Affairs Minister and Victorian Nationals leader, Peter Walsh, said the Coalition made the decision because of mounting concerns over delays being caused by cultural heritage processes.
>>20281804 'Indoctrination': Childcare kids told land stolen from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - Toddlers and pre-schoolers in some childcare centres are being taught that Australia was stolen from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, in ceremonies branded as "indoctrination'' on the eve of Australia Day.
>>20287589 Video: 'More appropriate date': Pat Cummins joins push to shift Australia Day - Pat Cummins' plea to change the date of Australia Day is set to embolden cricket bosses to defy public outrage and double down on the low key treatment of the day.
>>20287616 Video: Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley left speechless after grilling from radio host - The boss of Cricket Australia has been left speechless over a grilling by a radio host over the sporting body's decision to ban the words "Australia Day" during Friday's Test cricket match. Fordham repeatedly grilled the cricket boss before saying "it's like saying you want people to celebrate Christmas but they can't mention Santa Claus". An uncomfortable moment of silence followed, with only the sound of Hockley's laboured breathing audible over the airwaves. "Are you there Nick?" Fordham asked. "I think I've explained our position," Hockley said.

#20344843 at 2024-02-02 10:00:57 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #34: UNITED AGAINST THE INVISIBLE ENEMY OF ALL HUMANITY Edition

>>20251146
White supremacist Jacob Hersant to involve nation's top lawmakers in Nazi salute case

Aneeka Simonis - February 2, 2024

A white supremacist who was first to be charged with performing a Nazi salute in Victoria plans to drag the nation's top lawmakers into his legal case.

The Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday heard neo-Nazi Jacob Hersant, 24, required an adjournment of his matter due to a related "constitutional argument".

His lawyer, Sandra Gaunt, told the court her client intended to file notice of his argument with senior politicians, including Commonwealth Attorney General Mark Dreyfus and state Attorney General Jaclyn Symes.

The notice relates to section 78B of the Judiciary Act 1903 which "involves a matter arising under the Constitution or involving its interpretation".

It states that it is the duty of the court not to proceed in the case until it is satisfied that notice of the matter has been given to the Commonwealth and state attorneys generals.

"They may seek to be an interested party," Ms Gaunt told the court.

No further details of the constitutional argument were aired in court.

However at a previous hearing, Hersant told media outside court: "We should have free expression in this country. These laws are built on emotion and are anti-white".

Hersant performed the Nazi salute in front of media outside the County Court in late October after he and Thomas Sewell, the self-proclaimed leader of the National Socialist Network, were sentenced over a violent clash with bushwalkers at Cathedral Range State Park in May 2021.

Both men pleaded guilty to violent disorder over the incident, in which three bushwalkers who filmed the men were terrorised.

Hersant was sentenced to three days' prison time, already served, and ordered to perform 200 hours of community work.

Sewell was sentenced to one month and seven days' imprisonment - time he also already served.

Afterwards, Hersant raised his hand in a salute, stating: "Heil Hitler".

His gesture was made less than a week after Victoria's Nazi salute laws came into effect.

In December, Hersant told media he was not remorseful for the action and continues to perform the gesture daily.

The matter will return to court on February 29.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/white-supremacist-Jacob-Hersant-to-use-nations-top-lawmakers-in-nazi-salute-case/news-story/572761b72ee7eb02dc34154efef0db4b

#20251146 at 2024-01-16 10:35:56 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #34: UNITED AGAINST THE INVISIBLE ENEMY OF ALL HUMANITY Edition

>>19847303 (pb)
>>19989602 (pb)
>>20205303
Man facing jail over alleged Nazi salute says he still performs it daily

Marta Pascual Juanola - January 16, 2024

Prominent Melbourne white supremacist Jacob Hersant has responded to allegations he performed the Nazi salute just days after it was outlawed in Victoria, saying he does not regret it - even if it means spending time behind bars.

Hersant is facing up to a year in prison for allegedly making the gesture outside the County Court of Victoria on October 27 last year, just six days after it became illegal to intentionally display or perform a Nazi gesture or symbol in public.

The 24-year-old appeared at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Tuesday afternoon for a brief hearing to request an adjournment in the case to give him time to again apply for legal aid for a lawyer.

"They've refused me, but I'm trying to get a review of that," Hersant told the court. He smiled and waved at photographers and TV cameras as he walked outside of court after the hearing.

"I just think that it is absurd that we are supposed to live in a democracy, yet the government is trying to jail me for moving my arm in a particular way, in a particular gesture," Hersant told reporters.

"They didn't think there was a chance of imprisonment, but the prosecutor made it clear that there is a chance of imprisonment, so I presume I will get legal aid now."

During the hearing, magistrate Peter Reardon asked the prosecution what the maximum penalty would be if Hersant was found guilty of publicly performing the salute.

The prosecutor confirmed a term of imprisonment was within the options being contemplated in the case, before pointing out that Hersant had a criminal history.

"Ultimately, the custodial sentence is within range, it's available and ultimately that's the submission for prosecution," she said.

"The maximum penalty for this offence is one year in prison or 120 penalty units or both."

Hersant is the first Victorian to be charged with performing the Sieg Heil salute in public since the laws were introduced last year after the gesture was used at a protest attended by neo-Nazis.

Charge sheets previously released by the court state that Hersant is accused of intentionally performing a Nazi gesture "whilst knowing that the gesture is a Nazi gesture, and the performance of the gesture occurred in a public place, namely outside the Melbourne County Court".

The 24-year-old allegedly said "Heil Hitler" and raised his arm in an action comparable to the salute after he avoided additional prison time for assaulting bushwalkers in regional Victoria.

"Nearly did it. It's illegal now, isn't it?" he said at the time, laughing and lowering his arm.

On Tuesday, Hersant told reporters he wasn't worried about the prospect of going to jail and that he continued to perform the salute daily. Asked whether he regretted his actions, he said "no".

Reardon agreed to adjourn the matter for two weeks and advised Hersant to get a lawyer before he returned to court in February.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/man-facing-jail-over-alleged-nazi-salute-says-he-still-performs-it-daily-20240116-p5exnt.html

#18128956 at 2023-01-12 08:09:20 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #27: THEY ARE IN FULL BLOWN PANIC MODE Edition

>>17985903 (pb)
Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell's vile act outside court after sentence for assault on Nine Network security guard

A neo-Nazi who assaulted a security guard outside Channel 9's Melbourne HQ has learnt his fate in court, before performing a vile act outside the building.

Hugo Timms - January 12, 2023

A Melbourne neo-Nazi who violently assaulted a black security guard performed a Nazi salute outside court moments after avoiding jail time for his "sickening" crime.

Thomas Sewell, who founded the far-right European Australia Movement, repeatedly punched a security guard in the head outside Nine Network's Docklands headquarters in March 2021 after Sewell and a friend, who was filming Sewell, were asked to leave the building.

Sewell, 29 and of Balwyn North, was found guilty of affray and recklessly causing injury in December, with the court rejecting his claim of self-defence.

Sewell and Jacob Hersant were asked to stop filming inside Nine's studio, where they had arrived to confront producers from A Current Affair.

Sewell told the court at an earlier date that the pair had sought the producers after learning the program was due to air a show on his group in which they were labelled as terrorists.

"These people are manipulating public opinion against any white person in this country that are advocates for the white population," Sewell says in the video taken by Mr Hersant.

"Sorry, you can't film in the building," the security guard says after walking over.

When Sewell and Mr Hersant left the building followed by the victim, Mr Hersant began to film the victim and said "Dance monkey, dance."

"Watch yourself bro, I'm not a dance monkey," the victim said, before the pair began to push one another.

At this point Sewell jumped in and landed a flurry of punches, causing the security guard to fall back and hit his head on the pavement.

In December, Magistrate Stephen Ballek referred to the remark preceding the assault as a "disgusting racial taunt" and on Wednesday, said the footage was "sickening to watch".

On Thursday, Sewell told the court that he would be "very happy with a fine" and asked the court not to impose a conviction.

He said he had no prior criminal record, had served as a rifleman in the Australian Defence Force, had worked with disadvantaged children as a charity worker and was currently an apprentice.

Sewell submitted three character references and said he worked full time and financially supported his fiance, who he said was 36 weeks pregnant.

He said his actions "would have been the same" regardless of the "race or culture" of the victim.

The prosecution said Sewell was guilty of an "egregious" and "violent" act, which compelled the court to impose a term of imprisonment.

In sentencing Sewell, His Honour Ballek said he believed there was a racist aspect to the offending, but could not find the assault was racially motivated.

"(The victim) had no time to defend himself," His Honour Ballek said, adding that the security guard was looking at Mr Hersant when Sewell landed six blows to his face which were described as "brutal in force, speed and repetition."

His Honour Ballek said a Community Corrections Order (CCO) was in range considering factors such as Sewell's lack of prior convictions and previous good character.

Sewell, who also received a criminal conviction, was ordered to perform 150 hours of community service.

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/neonazi-thomas-sewells-vile-act-outside-court-after-sentence-for-assault-on-nine-network-security-guard/news-story/ca6ea5e575a9a4c05623468af77d1fc2

#14412613 at 2021-08-21 03:30:47 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #18 - Talisman Sabre: MAGIC SWORD Edition

>>14412603

2/4

Searby was in touch with the then US leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, who praised Searby for a video posted online.

But it was his talent as a martial arts instructor that reminded Sewell's right-hand man, Jacob Hersant, of one of the most dangerous neo-Nazis in Europe, Russia's Denis Nikitin.

The founder of extremist clothing and MMA brand White Rex, Nikitin has been banned from entering several European countries. In a 2018 interview, he explained White Rex was a tool to promote his white supremacist ideology: "If we kill one immigrant every day, that's 365 immigrants in a year. But tens of thousands more will come anyway ... So now we fight for minds, not on the street, but on social media."

Nikitin was already an inspiration to the National Socialist Network (NSN) and Hersant disclosed on a hidden camera that the NSN had introduced Searby to him.

"He is a really good dude," Hersant said of the Russian. "I got him into contact with Jaz and they just see eye to eye coz they are both interested in the MMA stuff," Hersant told the mole.

Another senior NSN member explained that if Searby replicated Nikitin's MMA neo-Nazi network, it could give the NSN an offshoot operation that counter-terror authorities could not easily ban.

"It is just a good way of sort of like protecting ourselves as well. If our organisation gets proscribed as a terror group, you know Jaz can still operate, because he is not affiliated, he can still operate as a gym, just an MMA gym."

Proscription is no idle fear. The leaders of the joint parliamentary security committee this week agreed, across the political aisle, that the National Socialist Network should be considered for banning.

After Searby's introduction to Nikitin, the Australian hosted the Russian on a video podcast, praising him for starting "white boy fight clubs".

"There is [sic] not many men left in the West willing to fight for what they believe," Searby told Nikitin. "I'm a big fan ... The people here in Australia will be inspired to see you standing up."

Leadership spill

By April this year, Searby's role inside the National Socialist Network was growing. Sewell revealed in the secret recordings that he had directed Searby to offer the group's financial support to an Albury-Wodonga teenager and alleged neo-Nazi facing terrorism charges.

"Jaz and his mate have been knocking on the [alleged terrorist's mother's] door every day. I found his address, but she hasn't been home," Sewell was recorded saying. Sewell had explained it was the NSN's duty to contribute to his bail fund. "He is one of our boys …. We spread and share the risk. That's how it works."

By late April, Searby had agreed to start training neo-Nazis, travelling to Melbourne to teach MMA to National Socialist Network recruits. When Sewell was remanded in custody on May 13 over an alleged assault - a charge which he is contesting - Hersant, the group's interim leader, asked Searby to lead the fight training sessions that Sewell usually oversaw.

He agreed, but Searby also spied an opportunity.

While Searby had publicly called for authorities to "free Tom Sewell", he was privately scathing of the NSN's unquestioning support for its leader.

"Everyone is saying Tom is a political prisoner - I'm saying you can't f-cking say that because once it comes out that Tom's done something wrong, if he has, we are all going to look like f-cking idiots."

Hersant, Searby said, was also too weak to lead the NSN.

"That's my only problem with Jacob ... he is definitely very smart, but he's a very soft kid ... I'm not going to follow a 22-year-old … And I know, I coached them, I watched them fight."

Away from the NSN base, Searby confided in the undercover agent that, with Sewell in jail and the membership splintering, Searby could make his own play at becoming leader.

"I know all eyes are on me at the moment and I need to make the right decision."

In early August, Hersant was still promoting himself as NSN leader, but he too is now facing assault charges. Sources say Searby is now a core member of the NSN's leadership cell and increasingly looking to take control of the white supremacist movement in Australia's south-east.

If Searby and Sewell had developed their own recruiting model, they were not alone. Sewell's NSN was partnering with group's other than the Proud Boys. And Searby was not the only committed extremist with overseas links and big ambitions.

(continued)

#13169160 at 2021-03-08 02:55:16 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition

>>13169155

3/3

Alfred Deakin Institute terrorism and radicalisation expert Professor Michele Grossman told NCA NewsWire the capacity of far-right groups to mobilise and get people to do things had increased over the past three years.

"There certainly has been an increase in what you might call far-right extremist narratives that have been primarily enabled by online environments," she said.

"They didn't just start with Christchurch, but what has changed is this capacity to mobilise, better organise and because of social media and the broader media environment, their capacity to inspire people to go off and conduct lone actor attacks has increased.

"What they do is reinforce particular ways of seeing the world and particular solutions to problems and it's especially concerning when those solutions are taken offline and out into the physical world, in terms of things like conducting violence, then we really have to worry."

Professor Grossman said proscription was useful in enabling governments to respond and manage threats but could also have the "unintended halo effect" of increasing the status of a particular group that could generate further support.

"We will never be able to completely eliminate harmful material in digital environments, instead what we need to do is try to tackle it through building resilience to what people may encounter online," she said.

"You need to build people's ability to be critical about what they see and what they're reading and build their resilience to toxic messages that seek to get them thinking about harming others or the community in general as a way of addressing their grievances."

Sewell, 27, was arrested and charged by counter-terrorism police with affray, recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault after Monday's incident but has already been spruiking his "white replacement" conspiracy views over encrypted messaging after being released on bail.

He has also appealed for donations to fund his defence in court.

"They're alleging a crime was committed, we're obviously going to fight that in court," he told his followers.

"They've been monitoring us for years and they've never once raided me personally or our HQ ... we have as an organisation committed no crimes."

Most members of the Australian neo-Nazi groups hide their identities by wearing face coverings in photos, but Jacob Hersant of the National Socialist Network is one who has revealed himself.

He told NCA NewsWire his group sought to spread the message and creed of national socialism to as many people as possible and, "ultimately survive as a free and distinct nation".

"This means strengthening our community, increasing in numbers and building understanding on National Socialism and the importance of national and racial survival," he said.

In a statement, ASIO said the agency had been dedicating additional resources to the evolving far-right threat and primarily investigated individuals or groups based on their use or advocacy of violence.

https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/security/how-extreme-rightwing-groups-have-weaponised-the-internet-in-australia/news-story/ed0950b6bcc9aab54d25280a944f554b

#11048507 at 2020-10-13 07:24:14 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #10 - INFORMATION WARFARE Edition

Alarm as neo-Nazi group National Socialist Network expands to Adelaide

A Melbourne-based neo-Nazi group that has vowed to bring about a "white revolution" has raised alarm after expanding its presence into Adelaide.

The National Socialist Network, which has openly described Indigenous Australians as "subhuman and monkeys", posted a photo of eight members performing the Hitler salute and displaying a flag in the South Australian capital.

The members were all dressed in black and wearing balaclavas over their faces.

The neo-Nazi group's Jacob Hersant confirmed to NCA NewsWire it was active in Adelaide as well as Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth and several regional cities.

But he would not reveal how many members or associates the group had.

He said by expanding across the country members ultimately hoped to "survive as a free and distinct nation" by strengthening their community and numbers.

Human rights advocates told NCA NewsWire they were concerned the recent language from the white supremacist group was becoming more "militant".

When asked about the group, South Australia Police said they always undertook some level of monitoring of any individual or group where information indicated there was a potential risk or harm to the safety of the South Australian community.

ASIO said extreme right-wing groups and individuals represented a serious, increasing and evolving threat to security, with the tragedy in Christchurch in 2019 a stark example.

It said the groups were increasingly radicalising numbers of young Australians - some barely in their teens - and while Islamic extremism was ASIO's greatest concern, the extreme and violent right wing had been in its sights for many decades.

A national security agency spokesperson said it was dedicating additional resources to the evolving threat of right-wing groups.

"It represents a growing proportion of our priority counter-terrorism caseload," they said.

"Unfortunately, extreme right-wing groups are more organised, sophisticated and security conscious than before.

"These groups are becoming increasingly ideological, more aware of and committed to specific dogmas, philosophies and views, many of which support or glorify violence.

"They draw from a diverse variety of ideas, and they are attracting a younger membership who display few overt signs of their extremist ideology."

Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich, who first exposed the National Socialist Network, told NCA NewsWire the group's expansion should serve as a wake-up call that racism and extremism were very much alive in Australia.

"Hate is on full-throated display, we must use every measure to stamp out these evil groups," Dr Abramovich said.

"At any point, the ugly rhetoric that these Hitler worshippers are spewing can cross the line into real-world lethal attacks, especially since such groups glorify and are inspired by 'heroes' or 'martyrs' who have carried out massacres.

"There is no doubt that white supremacists, who are growing appreciably more agitated, angry and emboldened, are waging a national campaign of harassment, ratcheting up their intimidation in an attempt to expand their base and recruit new members to their dangerous cause."

The Australian Federal Police said politically motivated extremism was increasing.

"It is a concern to the AFP and our law enforcement and national security partners. The AFP takes all extremist groups seriously, targeting criminals and criminal activity, not ideologies or backgrounds," a spokeswoman said.

On its website, the National Socialist Network said it would never use or advocate violence or terrorism to further their movement.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/alarm-as-neonazi-group-national-socialist-network-expands-to-adelaide/news-story/a68c9d4aa39ce51120c7ab8e3fdf7035