Two Australian parliamentarians have reported receiving death and rape threats after publicly condemning a neo-Nazi rally held outside the New South Wales (NSW) Parliament in Sydney on Saturday, 8 November 2025. The targeted officials, federal Member of Parliament Allegra Spender and state Member of Parliament Kellie Sloane, referred the violent messages to police, sparking a high-level government response and a debate over the adequacy of current hate speech legislation in Australia.

The threats followed a demonstration by approximately 60 men, identified as members of the National Socialist Network, who gathered on Macquarie Street. Dressed in black, the group held a large banner reading “Abolish the Jewish Lobby” and chanted antisemitic slogans, including one used by the Hitler Youth. Both Spender and Sloane, whose electorates in eastern Sydney have significant Jewish populations, condemned the rally on social media.

In response, a leader of the neo-Nazi group reportedly posted on the messaging app Telegram urging followers to “rhetorically rape Allegra Spender.” This message triggered a wave of hateful online abuse directed at both politicians. Sloane reported receiving dozens of “pretty hateful” messages, including death threats, which prompted her to deactivate her account on X (formerly Twitter). Spender confirmed she had referred a threat to the Australian Federal Police.

“I won't be intimidated by them, and I won't stop speaking up about behaviour that is racist and offends the majority of decent people in New South Wales,” Sloane stated on Monday, 10 November 2025.

Government and Police Response

The incident has drawn sharp criticism of the NSW Police for authorising the rally. NSW Premier Chris Minns and Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon both denied prior personal knowledge of the protest's approval, attributing it to an “internal communication error” within the police force. Lanyon announced a full review into the decision-making process. The rally was approved despite new state laws enacted in August 2025 that criminalise the intentional incitement of hatred based on race or religion.

Premier Minns condemned the rally as a “shocking display of hatred” and suggested that existing laws may need to be expanded. “It's likely the case that we need to give police more legislated powers to stop this kind of naked racism and hatred on Sydney streets,” Minns said at a press conference on Saturday. The government is now investigating whether the current ban on Nazi symbols could be broadened to include “Nazi speech, Nazi behaviours.”

The police authorisation has also led to accusations of a “double standard” from pro-Palestine activists, who claim their protests have faced greater opposition from authorities. Premier Minns has rejected this claim.

Global Context: The Rise of Far-Right Extremism

While this event is rooted in local Australian tensions, it reflects a broader, concerning global trend. Far-right extremism has seen a significant resurgence worldwide, with a 250 per cent increase in related terrorism globally, according to the Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank. In Australia, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) reported in 2021 that right-wing extremism constituted 50 per cent of its priority caseload.

These groups are often characterized by ultra-nationalism, anti-immigration stances, white supremacy, and antisemitism. They effectively use online platforms to spread propaganda, recruit members, and incite violence, often creating a “post-truth environment of uncertainty, mistrust and resentment.” The threats against MPs Spender and Sloane are a textbook example of the tactic of using violent intimidation to silence political opposition and minority groups.

For nations like Kenya, which are built on a multicultural and multi-ethnic framework, the rise of such divisive, hate-based ideologies abroad serves as a critical warning. The incident in Sydney demonstrates how quickly extremist rhetoric can escalate to direct threats against democratically elected officials, challenging the foundations of civil discourse and public safety. It underscores the importance of robust legal frameworks against hate speech and the need for international vigilance in monitoring and countering the spread of violent extremism. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED into any potential links or communications between Australian far-right groups and extremist elements in other regions, including Africa.