Updated ,first published
A notorious neo-Nazi who spoke at a rally outside NSW Parliament House last November has been charged with a hate crime.
More than 60 black-clothed members of the National Socialist Network (NSN) gathered outside parliament on November 8, 2025 after submitting a protest application that was unopposed by police. They chanted “blood and honour”, a Hitler Youth slogan, and held a banner that read “Abolish the Jewish lobby”.
Joel Davis, 31, was part of the gathering that went ahead after NSW Police sought legal advice only to be told police likely did not have the legal grounds to stop the protest.
Davis had shouted into a megaphone to promote baseless and offensive conspiracies about the Jewish community.
He was charged on Wednesday with publicly inciting racial hatred on the grounds of race causing fear, a relatively new offence created under the current NSW Labor government.
He was given conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court next month.
Davis was granted bail in April after several months in custody on a federal charge, following a message he posted on social media encouraging followers to “rhetorically rape” federal independent Allegra Spender.
After the rally, Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon had told parliament in an answer to a budget estimates committee submitted on March 26 that “a subsequent review of the actions of the protesters conducted after the protest identified no offence”.
However, a spokesperson for the police said on Wednesday that he had been charged in connection with the event.
“An investigation into this matter was undertaken by the Security Investigation Unit, Counter Terrorist and Special Tactics Command, who sought legal advice in relation to the public assembly and content of the speeches,” the statement said.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley described the behaviour of those at the rally as “completely unacceptable”.
“People have a right to protest. They do not have a right to target Jewish people, intimidate communities or incite racial hatred,” she said.
“These laws exist for a reason – to protect people from hate and fear, and the government will continue to support strong action against hatred and extremism.”
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said in a statement: “It would be inappropriate to comment on this precise case, but fair-minded Australians have had a gutful of divisive and hateful language and calls for violence on our streets. Enforcing hate speech laws is key to repairing social cohesion and protecting public safety.”
The NSN claims to have disbanded earlier this year to avoid being listed as a prohibited hate group under new legislation introduced by the federal government. The government, which listed the Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir under the new laws, did not proceed with the NSN designation.
Despite this, neo-Nazi Jack Eltis, who spoke alongside Davis at the November rally, has signalled an intention to challenge the legislation in the High Court.
Davis is the first to be charged with a crime in relation to the rally. South African national Matthew Gruter, who stood alongside Davis at the protest, had his visa cancelled by the federal government and was deported in December.
“If you are on a visa you are a guest. If you’re a citizen you’re a full member of the Australian family,” Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in November.
“Like with any household, if a guest turns up to show hatred and wreck the household, they can be told it’s time to go home.”
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Jessica McSweeney is a reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald covering state politics and urban affairs.Connect via email.
