Antipodean Resistance

Antipodean Resistance
	(flag)
Abbreviation	AR
Motto	We're the Hitlers you've been waiting for[1]
Formation	12 October 2016[1]
Purpose	National Socialist White revolution (Nazism)[1]
Headquarters	Melbourne[1]
Location	Melbourne[1];
Origins	Melbourne
Region	Victoria
Official language	English
Affiliations	National Action (UK); Nordic Resistance Movement; Atomwaffen Division

Antipodean Resistance (AR) is a neo-Nazi hate group in Australia.[2] The group, formed in October 2016, uses the slogan "We're the Hitlers you've been waiting for", makes use of Nazi symbols such as the swastika and the Nazi salute. AR's logo features the Black Sun and Totenkopf (skull head) with an Akubra hat, a laurel wreath and a swastika.[1]

Antipodean Resistance promotes and incites hatred and violence, distributing racist, homophobic and antisemitic posters and propaganda. In 2018 its website was shut down by its hosting provider.

History

Antipodean Resistance was formed on the now-defunct Iron March website, which was a far-right website describing itself as a fascist social network, and which appears to have been home to many white supremacists, neo-Nazis and other right-wing extremists. Members of the website formed groups such as Atomwaffen Division and Antipodean Resistance.[3]

Racist vandalism

AR has attracted attention for its Nazi-inspired vandalism in major cities in Australia. It has targeted schools in Melbourne with significant ethnic minority populations, placing posters carrying the message "Keep Australia White" along with racial slurs targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Chinese Australians and African Australians which were described as "vile and disgusting" by Victorian education minister James Merlino.[4] The group also placed a series of Chinese-language posters at universities threatening Chinese students with deportation.[5]

Homophobic propaganda

In the lead-up to the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey AR targeted churches, universities and public places with homophobic propaganda linking same-sex marriage and paedophilia.[6][7]

National Party of Australia ban

In 2018, the NSW Nationals unanimously adopted a resolution banning 22 people for life after an investigation into alleged infiltration by people with links to neo-Nazi and fascist groups. The resolution also banned any party member from joining a number of specific organisations, including Antipodean Resistance.

Membership

The membership of AR is reported to be very small. The group is only open to young heterosexual white people, who are "able to take a hit" for their beliefs. Members assume a pseudonym in an attempt to remain anonymous. Media outlets have reported that AR have organised secret radicalisation camps in remote forests.[8] AR has been banned from a number of social media and online hosting platforms.[1]

Terrorism concerns

Several counter-terrorism experts have suggested authorities should focus more on far-right extremists such as Antipodean Resistance. Anne Aly, the Labor MP, in 2017 suggested that the group may turn to terrorism, stating "For a terrorist attack to succeed, it really only takes one person." She called for the group to be banned, stating "I would like to see some of these groups proscribed ... as terrorist and violent organisations."[6]

It was reported in 2017 that ASIO, the Australian national security organisation, was monitoring the group, who were "willing to use violence to further their own interests."[9]

References

Martinich, Rex (6 October 2017). "Neo-Nazi Grampians camp used for recruitment". The Stawell Times-News. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
Poulter, James (13 March 2018). "The Obscure Neo-Nazi Forum Linked to a Wave of Terror". Vice. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
Davey, Melissa (16 August 2017). "White supremacist posters targeting students placed at Melbourne high schools". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
Kwai, Isabella; Xu, Xiuzhong (25 July 2017). "Anti-Chinese Posters at Melbourne Universities Are Tied to White Supremacists". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
Tran, Danny (5 September 2017). "Antipodean Resistance Neo-Nazi group trying to sway Australia's same-sex marriage postal vote". ABC News. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
Urban, Rebecca (29 August 2017). "White supremacists take credit for homophobic posters in Melbourne". The Australian. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
Lang, Rachel (5 September 2017). "Neo-Nazi radicalisation camp held on Sunshine Coast". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
Houghton, Jack (7 September 2017). "ASIO tracking Neo-Nazi group 'willing to use violence'". The Northern Star. Retrieved 15 September 2017.

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[2] Martinich, Rex (6 October 2017). "Neo-Nazi Grampians camp used for recruitment". The Stawell Times-News. Retrieved 27 December 2017.

[3] Poulter, James (13 March 2018). "The Obscure Neo-Nazi Forum Linked to a Wave of Terror". Vice. Retrieved 19 April 2018.

[theguardian-4] Davey, Melissa (16 August 2017). "White supremacist posters targeting students placed at Melbourne high schools". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 September 2017.

[nytimes-5] Kwai, Isabella; Xu, Xiuzhong (25 July 2017). "Anti-Chinese Posters at Melbourne Universities Are Tied to White Supremacists". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 September 2017.

[abc-6] Tran, Danny (5 September 2017). "Antipodean Resistance Neo-Nazi group trying to sway Australia's same-sex marriage postal vote". ABC News. Retrieved 5 September 2017.

[theaustralian-7] Urban, Rebecca (29 August 2017). "White supremacists take credit for homophobic posters in Melbourne". The Australian. Retrieved 5 September 2017.

[sunshinecoastdaily-8] Lang, Rachel (5 September 2017). "Neo-Nazi radicalisation camp held on Sunshine Coast". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 5 September 2017.

[northernstar-9] Houghton, Jack (7 September 2017). "ASIO tracking Neo-Nazi group 'willing to use violence'". The Northern Star. Retrieved 15 September 2017.