Neo-Nazi Leader Disrupts Victorian Premier’s Press Conference
In a brazen display of aggression, Thomas Sewell, a notorious neo-Nazi leader, gatecrashed a press conference held by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on Tuesday, making false claims about protest rights and forcing the event to be cut short.
The incident unfolded in a park in West Melbourne, where Ms Allan was addressing the media on working-from-home laws.
Sewell, accompanied by an associate, suddenly appeared and began hurling insults and accusations at the premier, prompting a security detail to intervene and remove him from the area.
False Claims and Intimidation
Sewell’s tirade included false assertions that the premier sought to ban the right to protest, and he labelled Ms Allan a “coward.”
Additionally, he claimed that 50,000 people had protested against immigration over the weekend, although it was unclear if he was referencing demonstrations in one city or several.
Victoria Police estimated the attendance in Melbourne to be around 5,000.
Notably, Sewell had previously addressed crowds at an anti-immigration rally in Melbourne, where he was handed a microphone despite falsely claiming that Australians do not have the right to protest.
The rally ultimately erupted into violent clashes, resulting in 12 arrests.
Condemnation and Investigation
Victoria Police confirmed they were aware of the incident and stated that the premier’s security team had intervened to ensure everyone’s safety.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the event as “quite horrific” during a caucus meeting.
Premier Allan later condemned the violence that occurred during the weekend’s protests, stating that there was “absolutely no place” for such behaviour.
She also announced plans to convene an anti-hate task force to investigate the incidents and address the underlying issues driving division in society.
Sewell is currently facing court charges for intimidating a police officer and breaching an intervention order by publishing material about the officer online.
In the aftermath of the incident, Ms Allan reaffirmed her commitment to making public appearances, saying she was “unharmed and undeterred” and that she wore the opposition from neo-Nazis as “a badge of honour.”