2 weeks Ago By Bryan Hoadley
The leader of a neo-Nazi march has claimed he was simply executing his right to "political expression" when allegedly parading through Ballarat while chanting white supremacist slogans. Login or signup to continue reading Thomas Sewell, 32, beamed into the Ballarat Magistrates' Court, Victoria, via video-link on April 15 sporting a moustache and shaved head. The Wantirna South man has been charged with behaving in an offensive manner in a public place in relation to the December 3, 2023, incident.
The march, which coincided with Eureka Day, saw a group of black clad men walk through the Eureka Stockade Gardens and up Sturt Street while carrying a banner and allegedly chanting white supremacist slogans. On Tuesday, Sewell, who represented himself, said he was waiting for answers from several state attorney generals in response to his notice under section 78B of the Judiciary Act. Section 78B stipulates that any matter involving the constitution or its interpretation should not proceed unless notice has been given to the Commonwealth and state attorney generals in case intervention is needed in a higher court.
During the fiery hearing, Sewell said he had contacted the attorney generals but was still waiting for responses from several states, including Victoria. But, the court heard that Sewell had failed to provide evidence of this to either the prosecution or the judicial registrar. When pressed for this evidence and asked to enter a plea in relation to the charges, the alleged neo-Nazi leader became increasingly irate, and claimed he was the victim of political discrimination.
"Unless Ballarat is some kind of magical place that does not have to conform to the Australian Constitution I am not entering a plea," he said. "[I have] a right to political expression." Sewell then went on a homophobic tirade in which he claimed Victoria Police had allowed people to show their genitals to children at gay pride "f----t" events.
No evidence of any such event was put before the court or where or when such an incident may have occurred. Sewell also called Ballarat a "fantasy land" where lawful demonstrations were treated as criminal and accused the media of being a "pack of liars". He was eventually muted by the court after interrupting the judicial registrar and the prosecution on multiple occasions and instructed to attend the next hearing in person.
The matter will return to court on May 6. Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data.
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