A previously unreleased video has surfaced, depicting a key organizer of the March for Australia rally coordinating with a member of the Neo-Nazi group, National Socialist Network (NSN), during the inaugural event in Sydney last August. The footage shows Bec Walker, also known online as Bec Freedom, in discussion with a prominent NSN member regarding the placement of the rally’s main banner. This revelation contradicts Walker’s earlier statements denying any control over participant positioning, including NSN members, during the march.
The video, now publicly accessible, was obtained by ABC NEWS Verify, which has also uncovered white nationalist affiliations among other newly announced organizers ahead of the next rally scheduled for this Sunday. Initially framed as a protest against “mass immigration,” the march has since seen Walker endorse the notion of “remigration,” a far-right term advocating for the deportation of non-European immigrants.
Unveiling the Coordination
The video captures a moment where NSN members were preparing for the Sydney march. A woman’s voice, identified as Walker’s, is heard off-camera calling out to NSN member Joel Davis. As Davis approaches, a conversation ensues, captured on video, where two men in black shirts, adorned with NSN insignia, are seen holding a banner. Following their brief exchange, Davis instructs, “Guys in the yellow hold the banner,” prompting two men in yellow vests to take over the banner from the NSN members.
One of the men in yellow vests is identified as Oscar Tuckfield, previously linked to a far-right plot to influence the Young Nationals. Tuckfield’s involvement raises questions about the extent of coordination between Walker and the NSN, despite her claims of minimal interaction. Walker told ABC NEWS Verify, “I cannot physically control where anyone stands. What I can control is who holds my banner that I paid for.”
White Nationalist Connections Emerge
ABC NEWS Verify has identified two additional individuals involved in organizing the upcoming March for Australia rally who have expressed white nationalist views. Matt Trihey, associated with the National Workers Alliance, has been announced as the Melbourne organizer. Trihey has previously stated that people of “European blood” face an “existential threat” from immigration, and his organization has hosted events where Nazi salutes were reportedly performed.
Another figure, Laurence McIntyre, known online as “Whats_Newsss,” has been appointed as the rally’s promoter and social media representative. McIntyre has shared NSN material and previously disrupted a Labor election campaign press conference. In a live stream, he controversially likened “mass immigration” to “ethnic cleansing,” a claim he reiterated when contacted by ABC NEWS Verify.
Shifting the Overton Window
The “Overton window” refers to the spectrum of political ideas deemed acceptable by the public. Both left and right-wing groups attempt to shift this window by promoting extreme views, aiming to normalize their broader agendas. The March for Australia, by incorporating Neo-Nazi elements in its initial rally, appears to be part of a broader effort to shift this window to the right.
Following the first event, where Neo-Nazis were prominently featured, Walker celebrated the use of the term “remigration” by a federal politician. This term, associated with far-right ideologies, underscores the march’s controversial underpinnings. ABC NEWS Verify reported that the event’s website initially referenced the concept, which was later removed. Walker explained the removal as a result of differing beliefs among organizing groups.
Implications and Future Outlook
The emergence of this video and the subsequent revelations about March for Australia’s organizers highlight the growing influence of far-right ideologies within certain protest movements. Experts like Kaz Ross, an independent researcher of extremism, suggest that these developments are indicative of a broader societal shift. “There’s been a very concerted and coordinated effort by far-right commentators in social media spaces to push the discourse on immigration,” Ross noted.
As the next rally approaches, the involvement of figures with white nationalist ties raises concerns about the movement’s trajectory. While the NSN has stated it will not attend Sunday’s protest, it has indicated plans to collaborate with March for Australia on Australia Day. Walker, however, has yet to confirm any such plans.
As the situation unfolds, the implications for Australia’s political landscape remain significant. The March for Australia and its associations with far-right groups underscore the challenges faced by societies grappling with the normalization of extremist ideologies. The upcoming rally will likely serve as a litmus test for the movement’s future direction and its impact on public discourse.
