National Socialist Network

The National Socialist Network (NSN) is an Australian neo-Nazi political organisation formed from two far-right organisations, the Lads Society and the Antipodean Resistance, in 2020. The organisation, based in Melbourne, claims to be active in all six state capitals and several regional cities. The group has used the protests against COVID-19 policies and other methods, such as media manipulation and attention-grabbing, to recruit new members.

The organisation, whose membership is unknown, is led by Thomas Sewell, former ADF member, Neo-Nazi, and convicted criminal. The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) released a report on 5 October 2022, in which it classified the National Socialist Network as a "white nationalist," "antisemitic," and "neo-Nazi" group.

2020
The group, adhering to its proclaimed methods of gaining attention and membership, has had numerous physical and intentionally provocative incidents. In 2020, a group of NSN members in Melbourne performed a Nazi salute with a neo-Nazi flag at Swinburne University. A photo of the salute on their Facebook page read: "NSN would like to thank the student body and faculty for letting us promote National Socialism on campus without opposition. Swinburne for the White man!" A university spokesperson responded: "Swinburne University of Technology abhors the comments, and the symbols depicted in the photograph taken on our campus. The views and ideas of groups such as this run counter to everything our university stands for, and we condemn them in the strongest possible terms."

2023
In early January 2023, flyers belonging to the National Socialist Network were found in circulation in East Brisbane, Queensland.

On 13 January 2023, a Melbourne Magistrates Court sentenced Thomas Sewell to 150 hours of community service to be completed in 18 months.

On 26 January 2023, members of the NSN held a protest in Coburg, Victoria, where they displayed banners. On 18 March 2023, approximately 30 members of the NSN, including Thomas Sewell, attended a rally in Melbourne in support of British anti-transgender activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, who spoke at the rally while visiting the city on her Australian and New Zealand tour. Members of the NSN marched down Spring Street, displayed a banner, performed Nazi salutes on the stairs of Parliament House, and referred to transgender people as paedophiles. A counterprotest attended by transgender rights protesters clashed with the group. While the police, including several mounted officers, attempted to separate the two groups, it was reported that pepper spray was used at least once. The events were condemned by the Labor Party, the Liberal Party and the Greens.

On 13 May, neo-Nazi and anti-fascist groups clashed in Melbourne at an anti-immigration rally, organised by NSN. Police made several arrests on both sides, while also deploying capsicum spray. A police officer was also hit with pepper spray. Federal government minister Chris Bowen labelled the rally "unspeakably un-Australian", calling the neo-Nazis who participated a "fringe of political lunatics who have no place in modern Australia". The rally was also condemned across both sides of the Victorian Parliament, described as "toxic bigotry and hate" and "disgraceful and cowardly".

On 15 September 2023, a dozen NSN activists were chased several blocks up High Street in Thornbury by antifascist activists chanting, "Nazi scum! Nazi scum!", after the former attempted to gatecrash an antifascist fundraiser. The event was hosted by Melbourne SHARPs, with 25% of proceeds going to Black Peoples Union, "in order to pay the rent and show solidarity with Indigenous sovereignty, liberation and their need for urgent mutual aid". One witness told Nine News that some of the masked neo-Nazis were armed with knives. No arrests were made, as most involved scattered down side streets. One neo-Nazi hid in the Thornbury theater for 2 hours before being evicted by security. The crowdfunding campaign raised more than $9,800.

On 13 October 2023, after the candlelight vigil event for Israelis kidnapped by Hamas and ahead of pro-Palestinian protests in the city, the group gathered outside Flinders Street Station in Melbourne, displaying an antisemitic banner at the station entrance under police surveillance; then the group members went inside the station, performing Roman salutes while going down an escalator, and boarded a Werribee Line train. While on the train they asked passengers whether they are Jewish or not, handed out NSN's "business cards" and another racist flier; they also sung the Australian national anthem as well as a white racist anthem. After the incident, State officials including Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the action and described the group as "cowardly neo-Nazis". The State of Victoria subsequently passed legislation banning public displays of the Roman salute which took effect on 21 October of the same year.

On 3 December, around 40 members of the NSN, led by Thomas Sewell, marched through the streets of Ballarat on the 169th anniversary of the Eureka Stockade. The group displayed a banner with the phrase, "Australia For The White Man" as they marched in through the city. A 15-year-old boy was questioned over his use of the Nazi salute in support of the group. Residents condemned the march as 'frightening'.

2024
On 26 January 2024, Australia Day, a group of NSN members, led by Thomas Sewell, was detained by New South Wales Police at the North Sydney railway station. An officer issued Sewell and his group a legal order banning them from attending any Australia Day events in the City of Sydney, citing a risk to public safety and Sewell's history of crime and public order incidents.

In late March 2024, members of the NSN Riverina chapter distributed recruitment flyers across the town of Wagga Wagga. NSW Police stated they were investigating the matter.