The federal government has officially banned the neo-Nazi organisation known as Whites Australia under tough new hate crime laws in a major crackdown on far-right extremism.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced on Friday that the group, which has also operated under the names the European Australian Movement and the National Socialist Network, had been listed as a prohibited hate organisation under changes to the Criminal Code.
This means supporting, funding, training, recruiting, joining or directing the group constitutes a criminal offence carrying a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The ban takes effect from midnight Friday.
Burke said the listing followed a lengthy legal process involving the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, approval from the Attorney-General and consultation with the Opposition.
'It sends a clear message to people who believe in racial supremacy that their views have no place in modern Australia,' he said.
'None of this stops bigoted people from having horrific ideologies.
'But it does prevent this group from organising, meeting and prevent some of the sorts of horrific bigoted rallies we have seen around our country.
The federal government has officially banned the neo-Nazi organisation known as Whites Australia under tough new hate crime laws in a major crackdown on far-right extremism
'The neo-Nazis have gone after almost every different group you can imagine - whether people are Jewish, Muslim, whether people are of Asian heritage, whether they are First Nations.
'They engage in a series of examples of bigotry, all of which fit with their white supremacist ideology.
'It has been made clear today that under Australian law they are now a banned organisation.'