Australia Will Deport Brit Over Swastikas, Nazi Gear

A British national living in Australia has had his visa canceled and now faces deportation after allegedly promoting Nazi ideology and calling for violence against Jews, Australian authorities said this week.

The 43-year-old man, who had been residing in Queensland, was arrested earlier this month and charged with multiple offenses related to the display of prohibited Nazi symbols and the use of the internet to incite hatred. Police allege he used social media to post swastikas, promote pro-Nazi views, and advocate violence against the Jewish community.

Following his arrest, the man was taken into immigration detention in Brisbane and is scheduled to appear in court in January. Australian officials are now weighing whether to deport him immediately or delay removal until after legal proceedings conclude.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the visa cancellation was swift and deliberate.

“He came here to hate — he doesn’t get to stay,” Burke said in a statement. “If you come to Australia on a visa, you are here as a guest.”

The case comes amid a broader crackdown on antisemitism and right-wing extremism in Australia, particularly the public display of Nazi symbols. Earlier this year, the government strengthened hate crime laws, introducing mandatory prison sentences for displaying banned symbols or performing Nazi salutes.

Police began investigating the British national in October after monitoring posts on X that allegedly violated the new laws. After the platform blocked his account, authorities say he created a second account under a similar name and continued posting extremist content.

A search of the man’s home in Caboolture, north of Brisbane, led to the seizure of phones, knives, axes, and several swords bearing swastika symbols. He has since been 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 said the enforcement effort is aimed at preserving social cohesion.

“These symbols are being used to intimidate and fracture communities,” Nutt said. “When we identify that behavior, we will act swiftly to disrupt it, prosecute those responsible, and protect the safety and dignity of our society.”

The man is not the first foreign national targeted under the tougher laws. Last month, Australian authorities revoked the visa of Matthew Gruter, a South African national, after he was filmed attending a neo-Nazi rally outside the New South Wales parliament.

Both men retain the right to appeal their visa cancellations. If unsuccessful, they may either leave Australia voluntarily or be deported.

Australian officials say the message is clear: extremist ideology, particularly antisemitism, will not be tolerated, regardless of nationality.