A resident in Tuggeranong has expressed outrage after spotting a man distributing neo-Nazi flyers promoting a “White Australia” agenda. The incident occurred when the resident, who prefers to remain anonymous, encountered the individual while returning home from work. The man was reportedly placing leaflets in local letterboxes, which contain messages that denounce non-European immigration and claim that Australia is becoming “less white and more brown.”
The flyers are connected to a political group led by neo-Nazi activist Thomas Sewell, who is currently facing charges related to an attack on a First Nations protest site in Melbourne. The leaflets carry a symbol associated with Sewell’s group and echo similar themes seen in prior distributions. This latest distribution marks the second time in two months that residents in Canberra have reported receiving such material.
The resident described the encounter as “really disgusting” and emphasized that it is alarming for individuals to feel bold enough to distribute such hateful messages in public. Another local, who previously found the flyers in her mailbox in Mawson, described their content as “deeply offensive.” She stated, “We are all humans and not just white people are Australian. Racism has no place in Canberra or Australia.”
Community Response and Police Action
Local residents have reacted by countering the hateful messaging with their own inclusive flyers. In response to the situation, ACT Policing has acknowledged awareness of the incidents involving the “White Australia” flyers, which they categorize as “anti-immigration.” A spokeswoman for ACT Policing indicated that while the material is “objectionable,” no criminal offences have been identified in relation to the content or symbols on the flyers.
Despite the lack of legal action taken against the distribution, police are urging anyone with information regarding the creation or dissemination of these flyers to reach out to Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000. The resident vocalized the need for political action, stating that these “disgusting flyers” should lead to a ban on such groups.
This incident follows a series of troubling events in the region, including an act of vandalism at a Buddhist temple in Nicholls, where hateful graffiti featuring a Nazi swastika was found. Police have not laid charges related to that incident, which was reported in March.
Since the beginning of 2023, authorities have initiated legal proceedings in six separate incidents concerning racial vilification. For instance, three teenagers, aged between 16 and 18, faced charges in August for allegedly drawing Nazi symbols in a public bathroom at the South Point shopping centre in Tuggeranong. Additionally, a Gungahlin man was apprehended after a special operation conducted by the Australian Federal Police uncovered a photograph of him performing the Nazi salute.
The community’s response to these incidents highlights the ongoing struggle against racism and hate speech in Canberra. Local residents are increasingly calling for measures to ensure that such divisive rhetoric is not tolerated in their city.
