A South African man who took part in a neo-Nazi group’s anti-Jewish lobby protest outside the New South Wales state parliament has had his visa cancelled and will be forced to leave Australia.
The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, cancelled the visa of South African national Matthew Gruter on Monday, more than a week after the demonstration.
The group – who described themselves as “White Australia, formerly the National Socialist Network” in their form 1 application – stood in formation on Macquarie Street, carrying a large banner that read “Abolish the Jewish Lobby”.
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The group posted content from the 8 November publicity stunt on social media.
Officials in the Home affairs department were preparing advice for Burke at the weekend, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on Sunday.
In a statement on Monday, Burke said: “If you are on a visa you are a guest. If you’re a citizen you’re a full member of the Australian family.”
“Like with any household, if a guest turns up to show hatred and wreck the household, they can be told it’s time to go home.”
The demonstration – which lasted less than 20 minutes in total – was observed by NSW police and was legally authorised. Police later confirmed the group had alerted authorities to their intention to hold a public assembly, which had not been opposed by police.
Demonstrators in the group wore black uniforms, some with insignia stitched on to their jackets. Some obscured their faces with hats and sunglasses, but many appeared unworried about being filmed and identified.
The Herald reported that Gruter was a civil engineer living in Australia with his wife, a social media influencer. Gruter will be required to leave the country.
Burke has previously moved to block visas for foreign nationals involved in “inciting discord” in Australia. Rapper Kanye West and far-right podcaster Candace Owens have been blocked from visiting Australia under the rules.
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The NSW police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, said he was unaware the demonstration had been authorised under the state’s form 1 process. He blamed a “communication error” for failing to inform the state government in advance.
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, said the event should not have been approved and announced a review into why police did not oppose it, as the force had previously for high-profile pro-Palestinian protests in Sydney.
The state government will introduce fresh laws restricting protests outside places of worship, after the state’s supreme court struck down legislation giving police expanded powers to move on protesters.
The rally was allowed to proceed despite controversial new laws, which came into effect in August, making it a crime to intentionally incite hatred against people because of their race, nationality or ethno-religious background.
