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Australia lists Neo-Nazi hate group and Hezbollah as terrorist organisations
Australia will list Hezbollah and ‘The Base’ as ‘terrorist organisations’
This extends a ban from Hezbollah armed units to the entire organisation, which controls much of Lebanon.
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews says the decision brings Australia in line with allies like the US and Canada.
She says “there is no place in Australia for their hateful ideologies.”
Australia will also ban neo-Nazi group, The Base, which the Government says is “violent” and “racist”.
Andrews says “we know that there are individuals actively watching what is happening in Australia.”
Hezbollah’s external security branch has been listed as a terrorist organisation since 2003.
The Base had organised paramilitary training camps overseas, Ms Andrews said, with the chairman of Australia’s Anti-Defamation Commission, Dvir Abramovich, describing the group as a “ticking time bomb” and “problem from hell”.
“These violent extremists are ticking time bombs”
The Base is led by Rinaldo Nazzaro and is already listed as a terror organisation in the UK and US.
Nazzaro is a former FBI and Pentagon employee, who now lives in Russia.
The Base joins the only other far-right group on the list, Sonnenkrieg Division, which spouts a violent white-supremacist ideology.
“White supremacy in Australia a problem from hell,” Dr Abramovich told reporters on Wednesday.
“The Base and other neo-Nazi groups are a real threat to our safety and security and if we don’t act, it will cost lives.”
Dr Abramovich said The Base and other far-right groups operating in Australia target disaffected young white men into carrying out terror attacks, such as the Christchurch mosque tragedy.
He called the listing of Hezbollah “long overdue”.
Prior to today’s announcement, there were 26 organisations on Australia’s terror list.