Chris Minns Condemns Neo-Nazi Rally at NSW Parliament, Calls for Enhanced Police Powers
News Report generated with Gemini AI /Fact checking A.Ritenis
Sunday 09 November,2025
SYDNEY—New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has strongly condemned a neo-Nazi rally that took place outside the NSW Parliament House on Saturday morning, describing the display as “deploring, disgusting behaviour.” The Premier subsequently called for a review of legislation to grant police enhanced powers to prevent similar racist demonstrations in the future.
Rally Details and Official Response
Approximately 60 members of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network (NSN), clad in black, assembled on Macquarie Street. The group displayed a banner with an antisemitic message and chanted Nazi slogans within view of the Parliament building.
In a press conference later that day, Premier Minns stated the display was “shameful, absolutely shameful.”
He argued against ignoring the group, saying, “If you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile.”
Minns emphasized the spread of racism and the need for a clear, unambiguous message from the government and community that “we’ve got no interest in neo-Nazis in Sydney and in Australia.”
Review of Police Authorisation
The demonstration was notably authorized by NSW Police, a decision that sparked widespread criticism.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon appeared alongside the Premier and acknowledged a “breakdown in communication” within the police force that led to the approval. Lanyon explained that the protest was authorised at a local command level based on the assessment that no illegal or violent activity was expected.
Under current NSW law, police cannot ban a protest outright but can refuse authorization if they believe it poses a risk to public or attendee safety.
Proposed Legislative Changes
Premier Minns suggested that the current laws are inadequate to address such overt displays of hate. “It’s likely the case that we need to give police more legislated powers to stop this kind of naked hatred and racism on Sydney streets,” he stated.
The call for expanded powers comes despite existing NSW laws, which took effect in August, making it an offence to incite hatred based on a person’s race in public, and the separate prohibition on the public display of Nazi symbols (like the Hakenkreuz).
The latter law, section 93ZA of the Crimes Act 1900, carries penalties of up to 12 months in prison for an individual.
Community Reaction
The rally drew swift condemnation from various community groups. The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip supported the Premier’s stand, stressing that “evil left unconfronted becomes evil that is normalised.”
However, some groups, including the Jewish Council of Australia, while condemning the antisemitic stunt, cautioned against using the incident to tighten protest laws, arguing for a united community action to combat the far-right instead.
