Two female MPs have reported the threats they received following their condemnation of Saturday’s neo-Nazi rally outside New South Wales parliament to the police, as the premier rejected any suggestion there was a “double standard” in how the far right is dealt with compared with pro-Palestine activism.
The alleged threats against federal MP Allegra Spender and state MP Kellie Sloane, which included death threats and calls to “rhetorically rape” the federal MP, came after both took to social media to condemn Saturday’s rally, in which about 60 men held a banner calling for the abolition of the “Jewish lobby”, with speakers repeating antisemitic tropes.
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, and the police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, again fronted the media on Monday, but were unable to answer questions about where responsibility lay for the decision to allow the rally to go ahead.
Sign up: AU Breaking News email
Speaking on ABC radio on Monday morning, Sloane, the NSW shadow health minister and member for Vaucluse, said she received dozens of “pretty hateful” messages on X on Sunday.
Some of the messages – which Guardian Australia understands included death threats – were “concerning enough to forward to police”, she said. Sloane has since deactivated her account.
In a press conference on Monday afternoon, Sloane said she would “not be intimidated by this group or by people who support them.”
“I will not be bullied out of saying what I think, and I will stand up for people in my community and for the broader community of Sydney who don’t like hate.”
In a statement on Monday, Spender, who condemned the rally on X on Saturday as “appalling” and “seeking to spread vile hatred against Jewish people”, confirmed a threat had been referred to the police.
The threat, posted in the neo-Nazi group’s Telegram channel, allegedly read: “Patriots – I bid thee to rhetorically rape Allegra Spender.”
“This is an extremely tiny group of extremist thugs who represent no one,” said Spender.
A spokesperson for the Australian federal police confirmed it had received a report of crime in relation to threats made towards a federal MP.
NSW police said it had commenced an investigation “following reports two women allegedly received threatening messages via a social media platform”.
Asked about the threats allegedly received by Sloane and Spender, Minns told reporters on Monday they were “another example of what particularly women in public life have to put up with.”
“My hat’s off to both of them, the fact that they’re prepared to stand up, put their views, put their beliefs for civic life in New South Wales.”
Saturday’s event followed a rally by the same group outside parliament in June, which was authorised by police. The permit was lodged under “White Australia” and related to “current immigration levels and the cost of living crisis”.
Asked how high up the chain of police command a form 1 application for Saturday’s rally had reached, Minns said he didn’t know.
“Obviously I take the commissioner at his word and [police minister Yasmin Catley] at her word that they weren’t aware of it. I know I wasn’t part of the review,” he said.
Minns said the government was investigating whether a ban on Nazi symbols, could be expanded to include “Nazi speech, Nazi behaviours on Sydney Streets”.
He said the government was also seeking to “clarify and codify” to make sure an approved form 1 protest application does not give protesters a “free pass” when it comes to hate speech laws.
Saturday’s rally came after controversial new laws, making it a crime to intentionally incite hatred against people because of their race, nationality or ethno-religious background, only came into effect in August.
Sloane said the laws should have been tested by the rally: “There is a credible argument, I believe, for the fact that this was incitement to hatred.”
“You can’t look at a single banner or a single thing. You need to look at it in totality,” she said.
Minns denied the approach showed a “double standard”, following government and police opposition to pro-Palestine rallies on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.
“That would only be the case if anyone were willing to reject the fact that police have not only granted but worked with Palestine Action Group organisers for hundreds and hundreds of rallies in Sydney,” he said.
Speaking to ABC radio on Monday, Spender said allowing the neo-Nazi rally to go ahead was a “complete stuff up”.
“I think it’s very unclear so far from the NSW government and also the NSW police really what should have happened instead of what actually did happen.”
If you have something to share about this story, you can contact the Guardian Australia news teams using one of the following methods.
Secure Messaging in the Guardian app
The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said.
If you don’t already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select ‘Secure Messaging’.
- If you don't need strong security you can write to a Guardian Australia journalist using the details here. Click on a person to see their details.
- For end to end encrypted email you can create a free Protonmail account and email gaus.contact@protonmail.com.
Messaging apps
You can also use the encrypted messaging apps Signal or WhatsApp to message us at +61 490 758 250.
SecureDrop and other secure methods
If you can safely use the tor network without being observed or monitored you can send messages and documents to the Guardian via our SecureDrop platform.
Finally, our guide at theguardian.com/tips lists several ways to contact us securely, and discusses the pros and cons of each.
