The Neo-Nazi group allegedly involved in last year's attacks on Camp Sovereignty says it will disband in response to forthcoming federal hate laws.
In a statement posted to Telegram, the National Socialist Network (NSN) said legislation due to be introduced to Federal Parliament next week signalled the end of its operation.
The group had previously indicated it intended to form a political party.
"If the laws pass, there will [be] no way to avoid the organisation being banned," the NSN statement said.
"This disbandment is being done before the laws take effect to avoid former members of the organisations from being arrested and charged."
It will also spell the end to other projects, including White Australia, the European Australian Movement and the White Australia Party, the group said.
When announcing the proposed laws on Monday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke specifically named-checked the NSN, along with Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, as targets of the legislation.
"Two groups which through their spreading of hate, have a direct impact on increased risk on our national security environment, but have kept themselves just below the law," Mr Burke said.
"For while they have created a pathway for others to engage in violence, have been careful to not explicitly call for it themselves. They've kept themselves just below that threshold. This bill will lower that threshold, and lower that threshold to the extent that we can within the Constitution. We have had enough of organisations that hate Australia, playing games with Australian law."
A post shared by National Indigenous Times (@natindigtimes)
The NSN's announcement — which authorities are expected to treat with scepticism — was signed by NSN leader Thomas Sewell, who is currently on bail over the alleged attacks on Camp Sovereignty, along with other prominent white nationalists.
The August 31 attacks followed a series of anti-immigration rallies held nationwide. Footage showed about 40 men dressed in black — many allegedly linked to the NSN and some carrying flagpoles and sticks — storming the Indigenous camp at Melbourne's Kings Domain.
15 people have been charged in connection with the attack, including Mr Sewell, over alleged offences such as violent disorder, affray, assault and breaching bail conditions.
Prosecutors alleged Mr Sewell said "let's get 'em" as he led the group towards the camp. At least seven people were assaulted, including one camp occupant who was allegedly held down and kicked, and another who was struck with a pole before being kicked and punched, they said.
Camp Sovereignty, established in 2006 by Krautungalung Elder Robbie Thorpe, is a peaceful site for community gathering, reflection and ceremony, and is also the resting place of repatriated remains of 38 Aboriginal Victorians.
Following the events in August, Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe described it as "an attack on First Peoples" intended to "intimidate, terrorise, and spread fear in First Peoples and the broader black and brown community".
"It was clearly a racially motivated attack and must be investigated as a hate crime," she said.
In Parliament, federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy described the attack as "hateful violence".
"These kinds of attacks — be they on religious institutions or be they on these culturally significant Aboriginal sites; use hate and violence to divide us. But we will not let them divide us," she said.
So far, Federal Police have declined to charge any NSN member with a hate crime, despite many — including more than 20 federal crossbench MPs — arguing the attacks fit the criteria.
Beyond the Camp Sovereignty incident, a number of events in 2025 were disrupted by individuals allegedly linked to the NSN, who displayed signs bearing racist and anti-Semitic slogans.
In November last year, more than 60 NSN members gathered on the steps of NSW Parliament, unfurling a banner calling to "Abolish the Jewish lobby" during a public assembly approved by NSW Police.
In June, a gathering reportedly organised by the NSN outside a suburban Melbourne shopping centre in the early hours of the morning saw participants display an explicitly racist banner. Around the same period, alleged neo-Nazis booed a Welcome to Country delivered by Bunurong Elder Uncle Mark Brown at the Anzac Day ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance.
At a January 26 rally in Adelaide, 15 men and one youth from across the country — all alleged NSN members — were arrested and charged with offences including failing to cease loitering, possessing articles of disguise, and hindering or resisting arrest.
