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AUSTRALIA FACES THE DANGERS OF FAR-RIGHT EXTREMISM’S EXPANSION

Yasmine Ashwal, Ollie Davidson, Claire Nelson, Vivien Popper, Behavior/Leadership (B/L) Team

Week of Monday, April 5, 2021



Christchurch mosque attacker Brenton Tarrant[1]


Australia is increasingly becoming a significant location for the global far-right to conduct recruitment efforts and violent attacks. However, the threat posed by far-right extremism in Australia is not limited to domestic attacks, as the 2019 attack on the Christchurch Mosque in New Zealand by Australian native Brenton Tarrant was cited as an inspiration in the manifestos of two mass shooters that conducted attacks in the United States. The allure of Australia as a location to recruit, coordinate, and conduct attacks is further heightened by the limited power of the Australian authorities. Despite publicly stating a desire to increase efforts focused on combating the expansion of right-wing extremist sentiment in Australia, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) lacks the legal jurisdiction and basis to fully prosecute occurrences of concerning action unless this action is violent. These vulnerabilities in Australia’s legal and political systems increase the appeal of engaging in far-right motivated recruitment, mobilization, and action in Australia.


Australia has a long legacy of far-right movements that provide fertile ground for extremist ideologies to flourish in the 21st century. The far-right organizations active in Australia today are undoubtedly influenced by their foreign counterparts - a trend that can be traced back as early as the early 20th century. Australian far-right groups at this time often emerged in response to broader global issues and appear to follow international trends, often adapting their beliefs to engage with Australia’s own domestic geopolitical issues. Just like their 20th century predecessors, many Australian-based groups are no different from their North American or European counterparts. The Australian Defence League (ADL), for example, was established in 2009 as a direct offshoot of the UK-based English Defence League (EDL).[2] The Nationalist Socialist Network, which gained notoriety following their expedition in the Grampians National Park on Australia Day in January 2021, similarly shares their name and imagery with their North American and European counterparts, such as swastikas. They represent an ongoing desire amongst Australia’s far-right to align themselves with international political ideologies that can be traced back as early as the 1930s. Their recent Grampian outing indicates that right-wing groups such as the NSN are becoming emboldened and are increasingly comfortable carrying out events and gathering in public places. It is possible that this newfound confidence has emerged due to the occurrence of similar events and rallies carried out by like minded far-right groups in the US in recent years, such as the Charlottesville rally in 2017. It is clear that Australia’s far-right groups continue to be influenced by the attitudes of foreign organizations overseas in the Anglosphere.


Monarchist and anti-communist groups such as The New Guard, founded by Colonel Eric Campbell in Sydney in 1931, represent how the Australian right-wing rallied to combat the pro-independence and anti-imperialist movements that were building momentum in Australia and throughout the Commonwealth at the time. The New Guard gained notoriety for their readiness to violently engage with Australia’s trade unionists, who they regarded as a product of the communist invasion of the West and the downfall of traditional, white, Protestant society.[3] It is very likely that the historical paramilitary nature and violent legacy of Australia’s earliest far-right has since inspired extremists to commit acts of violence in the 21st century. Brenton Tarrant's manifesto reveals that he regarded immigrants - especially Muslims - as “invaders”, while his actions display a clear intent to combat his enemy with violence.[4] It is possible that Tarrant believed the common right-wing rhetoric that labels Islam as a threat to Western culture. If this was the case, there are clear parallels to be drawn between the perception of Communism amongst Australia’s far-right of the 20th Century and contemporary perceptions of Islam amongst the country’s far-right circles today, with both Communism and Islam beign regarded as foreign, alien, and dangerous.


On March 15, 2019, Brenton Tarrant committed a horrific mass shooting at a specifically chosen location that instilled fear in thousands and inspired future violence. After months of meticulously planning an attack, Tarrant proceeded to shoot and kill over 50 people and injure another 40 at two mosques in Christchurch and Linwood, New Zealand.[5] Tarrant wanted to directly influence future violence with his attack, which he achieved through the use of social media. By livestreaming the attack on Facebook, many people have become familiar with it. Technological advances are not only useful for counterterrorism purposes, but terrorist actors are also able to exploit the available functions of the internet that allows the even wider dissemination of possible propaganda material and alternative recruitment practices. Nearly certainly, the livestream also reached those who wanted to commit a similar attack and this incident likely served as a necessary push. Due to the online aspect of Tarrant’s attack, it is highly likely that it further influenced far-right extremist movements in Australia, even though the attack did not occur directly in the country. Tarrant himself was born and raised in Australia, but it is probable that he chose to target New Zealand because it was close to home and there were many immigrants in the country. Tarrant also left a manifesto behind, explaining his actions, which inspired John Earnest and Patrick Crusius who carried out mass public shootings in the United States only a few months after the attack in New Zealand. Leaving a manifesto behind, can provide a sense of immortality for the attacker and their action, which is likely a reason why it influences future perpetrators. Both Earnest and Crusius made it clear in their written manifestos that they had been directly inspired by Brenton Tarrant’s attack.



Screenshot from John Earnest’s Written Manifesto[6]


Many mass shooters who are suspected of being influenced by the far-right extremist movement have a common need for recognition by others and their desire to inspire future attacks. This need for recognition often influences the perpetrator to commit an attack that will likely result in a high number of casualties. These perpetrators also want people who subscribe to the same far-right extremist beliefs to see their actions and use them as inspiration for future attacks. Terrorism, both domestic and foreign, has a performative nature that allows the perpetrator to not only harm a large number of people, but also instill fear in the target population across the world. It is likely that when Tarrant made the decision to publicly livestream his attack, he made clear that he wanted others to see how he carried out his attack and why others should do the same. Due to their horrific nature, mass public shootings often garner a great deal of media attention that publicizes these attacks. It is important that media sources do not glorify the perpetrators or their motivations to ensure that acts of terrorism are minimized to whatever extent possible. Instead, news and media sources should ensure that they focus on the victims and lives lost. When a mass shooter chooses to write a manifesto they are guaranteeing that their motivations become known to the world and that their actions may inspire others. Mass shootings that result in high casualties are often reported on by many news and media sources internationally, and when the shooter's motivations are known, it allows many to continue talking about the actions for months. Research has shown that mass shootings have a contagion effect and often occur in clusters.[7] This contagion effect is exacerbated when mass public shooters publish manifestos online and when the media focuses on the perpetrator rather than the victims.


It is possible that several of the mass shootings that occurred in recent years have been influenced by far-right extremism and their strong online presence. While not all mass shootings are specifically inspired by the beliefs of far-right extremism, it can be argued that a subset of recent mass shooters have directly been inspired by far-right hateful ideologies. It is likely that these perpetrators frequent online communities and can be seen in the case of a teenager that was arrested in December of 2019 by Australian authorities. The teenager was arrested on suspicions that he had planned to carry out another mass shooting as a result of the influence of far-right extremism.[8] The teenager had not committed an attack but possessed a great deal of neo-Nazi and far-right extremist material that when combined with an increase in online activity led the police to arrest him.[9] As a result of the recent mass public shootings that occurred in 2019, specifically perpetrated by Tarrant, Earnest, and Crusius, there has been an increase in online activity from many different far-right extremist groups. The ease of access to these online communities allows vulnerable individuals to become more easily radicalized as a result of exposure to manifestos or media sources where people promote hateful rhetoric. Many of these online communities have taken hold in Australia, continuing to promote hateful ideologies and radicalize vulnerable individuals. This poses a large threat to the Australian government and the public and requires the international community to work together to combat this threat. It is important that the Australian intelligence community is able to quickly identify these online communities and shut them down to ensure that fewer vulnerable individuals become radicalized. If these communities can maintain a strong hold on their members and anyone who frequents their webpages, it is highly likely that they will continue to influence people and inspire future acts of violence.


According to a report of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), far-right extremism related investigations took up 30-40% of overall counter-terrorism files in 2020, compared to 10-15% in 2016.[10] The agency has also warned of the increasing threat of right-wing extremism, based on evidence that groups like the Proud Boys, The Base and Sonnenkrieg Division, are shifting their activity and recruitment efforts from the United States and Europe to Australia.[11] Because the country has substantially fewer legislations regulating the activity of right-wing extremist groups, very likely making it an attractive target, such organizations can easily exploit this vulnerability. At the moment, Australia does not have the capacity to effectively address and combat the threat far-right extremists pose. Out of the Five Eyes, Australia is the only member that has yet to put the Proud Boys on their banned list.[12] This increases the country’s appeal for the group to conduct operations legally and under minimal supervision there. Such factors likely serve as strong motivations for the relocation. The activities of far-right extremist groups are not strictly regulated, so it is highly possible that similar organizations, to the aforementioned, will follow their counterparts in moving. This will likely increase violent acts and elevate security problems for Australia and other countries in effectively contesting far-right extremist operations. In order to prevent the shift of more extremist groups, the Australian government should take immediate action and start preparing a long-term counter strategy as well.


In March 2021, the Australian government added the first far-right extremist group, the Sonnenkrieg Division, to their list of banned entities that has been predominantly populated by Islamist terrorist groups.[13] The heavy focus on jihadist organizations has also created an opportunity for the radical right-wing to operate without many boundaries. Unless these groups are outlawed, authorities are not able to competently encounter them. Australia lacks legal sanctions against far-right extremist groups that could disrupt and limit the extent of their recruitment, funding and communication methods. By having efficient legislations, Australian authorities would have legal grounds for seizing assets, intercepting transactions and restricting the travel of these groups and associates. The Australian government should revise the Criminal Code - Section 102, which relates to terrorist organizations, and if necessary introduce new legislations that would enable authorities to carry out those countermeasures. Expanding the list of proscribed far-right extremist organizations also provides a wider scale for investigations and makes it easier to prosecute members with terrorism charges. Due to the absence of adequate legal constraints, it is difficult for law enforcement to address hateful extremism. When the police were called because of a white supremacist gathering in the Grampians, the officers did talk to the group of men, but identified that no laws were violated which concluded the inspection.[14] Authorities are legally unable to interrupt such incidents, so far-right extremist groups can perform similar gatherings and other activities that enhance the appeal of engagement in Australia.


The problem of implementing effective countermeasures is likely influenced by the view of some Australian politicians. Australia’s Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton, said that the bar of extremist groups is not a political decision, but a matter for policing.[15] Immigration Minister, Alex Hawke, rejected the notion of a surge in right-wing extremism in Australia.[16] While it is true that legally designated terrorist groups are done based on the advice of the ASIO, overcoming the threat of violent far-right extremists should be a collective goal and responsibility of a country, including politicians. Acknowledging the threat and pushing for a solution are essential steps in tackling the issue. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security is currently conducting an inquiry on the motivations, goals and capability for the violence of extremist groups, including the far-right, which is due to be completed in April 2021.[17] This report is likely to have an effect on the response of Australian politicians, which is probable to lead to legislation regarding how to successfully counteract right-wing extremists in the country. In order to hinder a further shift in activities of far-right extremist groups, Australia should redirect their attention to take significant action in combating the threat. This can be done with measures such as intensified monitoring of suspicious online activity of not only Islamist terrorist groups, but far-right extremist organizations as well. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the online activity of extremist groups has increased substantially, so specifically targeting their operations on the internet almost certainly provides a way for successfully handling most affairs of right-wing extremists. Working together with non-governmental organizations that deal with raising awareness and tackling hate would also largely benefit the Australian authorities in information gathering and promoting community alertness about the threat of far-right extremism.


The Counterterrorism Group (CTG) continues to monitor global and regional developments that pose a threat to international security. The CTG’s Worldwide Analysis of Terrorism, Crime, and Hazards and Threat Hunter programs actively track and catalog detected threats in order to identify ongoing trends and patterns. This enables strong analysis and reporting that is based in stronger familiarity with the threats posed. The CTG also continues to write reports on threats such as this that provide further analysis in order to create a more aware public, which is then better guarded against these threats. While the Counterterrorism Group does not currently have any on-the-ground operatives, its workforce will continue to run its surveillance programs to better guard our clients, readers, and public from the spread of far-right extremism in Australia. In addition to CTG’s existing efforts, the organization can also reach out to partner with Australian authorities to draft readiness plans to prevent future violence from the far-right in Australia.


The Counterterrorism Group (CTG) has become the global leader in proactively fighting terrorist organizations around the world. CTG specializes in intelligence collection, and analysis, as well as investigative work to counterterrorism. Innovation must be constantly adapted to ensure financial stability. Our 24/7 W.A.T.C.H services produce daily threat intelligence, also designed to complement other intelligence products which utilize analytical and scenario-based planning for the quick assessment of terrorist networks that are fanatical about their profession. CTG’s innovative teams can support terrorism, criminal, financial, and cyber threats to maintain its leading edge in this ever-evolving industry with growing demands among enterprises, academia, and professional institutions alike for intelligence, and security solutions made easy but hard hitting all at once! All CTG products are the perfect go-to source for anyone who’s interested in following geopolitical events, especially those that affect or could potentially affect their personal security. We can provide you with the safety and protection needed to feel secure. No matter if it’s just one person or an entire organization, we can handle everything for your peace of mind. We are the present, and future solution to the ever-evolving global threat landscape. To find out more about our products and services visit us at counterterrorismgroup.com.


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[3] Ibid

[4] New Zealand mosque shootings: What’s behind the suspect’s apparent manifesto?, EuroNews, March 2019, https://www.euronews.com/2019/03/15/what-was-behind-the-new-zealand-shooter-s-motive

[5] “Christchurch mosque attack: Brenton Tarrant sentenced to life without parole”, BBC News, August 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53919624

[6] “Manifesto” by John Earnest licensed under Bard Center for the Study of Hate

[7] “Mass Shootings Can Be Contagious, Research Shows”, NPR, August 2019, https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/08/06/748767807/mass-shootings-can-be-contagious-research-shows

[8] “Australian police arrest teenager over threat of mass shooting”, Al Jazeera, December 2019, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/9/australian-police-arrest-teenager-over-mass-shooting-plot

[9] Ibid

[10] Right-wing extremists using Islamic State tactics to recruit, ASIO warns, amid spike in surveillance, ABC, September 2020, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-22/right-wing-extremists-asio-islamic-state-tactics/12690002

[11] Why aren't Australian authorities banning more far-right extremist groups?, ABC, March 2021, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-27/why-isnt-australia-banning-more-far-right-extremist-groups/100032018

[12] Head of Australia's extremism inquiry vows to take rising far-right threat seriously, The Guardian, February 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/feb/05/head-of-australias-extremism-inquiry-vows-to-take-rising-far-right-threat-seriously

[13] Why aren't Australian authorities banning more far-right extremist groups?, ABC, March 2021, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-27/why-isnt-australia-banning-more-far-right-extremist-groups/100032018

[14] White supremacists chanting in The Grampians draws the anger of locals, ABC, January 2021, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-28/anger-over-neo-nazis-chanting-camping-in-the-grampians/13097654

[15] Listing of neo-Nazi group won’t stop the far-right threat to Australia, The Strategist, March 2021, https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/listing-of-neo-nazi-group-wont-stop-the-far-right-threat-to-australia/

[16] Ibid

[17] Inquiry into extremist movements and radicalism in Australia, Parliament of Australia, 2021, https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Intelligence_and_Security/ExtremistMovements

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