They assembled around the local barbecue area, some shirtless with Nazi tattoos, and sipped coffee outside the Black Panther Cafe, which is staffed and owned by an Indian family. “We are the Ku Klux Klan,” one of them belligerently told a local, who declined to be named for fear of repercussions. Another heard the group screaming racist slogans as they got drunk on Sunday night while camping illegally at Lake Bellfield, a beautiful body of water at the foot of the Grampians’ granite peaks and ridges. When Halls Gap resident James passed the group on his mountain bike on Sunday afternoon in town, he was addressed with a Sieg Heil.
Last modified on Wed 27 Jan 2021 21.22 EST
Daniel Andrews has warned that “evil” and “wicked” antisemitism is on the rise after a meeting of neo-Nazis in Victoria’s Grampians national park on Saturday.
The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald reported that dozens of far-right extremists gathered in the Grampians and Halls Gap over the Australia Day weekend, chanting white supremacist slogans, raising their arms in Nazi salutes and some wearing army fatigues.
The group’s activities prompted complaints to local police, who told local ABC news that they attended but could not identify any crime.
The group is now reportedly being monitored by Victoria police and the domestic spy agency, Asio.
Locals in a picturesque area of western Victoria, thronged by tourists, have said they now feel in danger after a far-right neo Nazi thugs descended on the area during the Australia Day long weekend. I came to this area to feel safe. I never thought living out here I d be in danger of extremist groups, one local told news.com.au. You look at these people and they re the ones you fear the most. They re like a cut snake, you just don t know what they d do. The anti-terrorism squad of Victoria Police are now investigating after it was reported that almost 40 members of Nazi group the National Socialist Network visited the Grampians region and the town of Halls Gap, about 150 kilometres north west of Ballarat.