Labor has accused the Morrison government of playing down the growth of far-right extremism after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke suggested extremism was not on the rise in Australia.
Coalition members also tweaked a Senate motion specifically condemning right-wing extremism so that it included far-left extremism as well.
Mr Hawke was commenting on a new report about social cohesion in Australia when he slammed the opposition for “over-emphasising” the level of right-wing extremism in the country.
Labor’s home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally has been campaigning for far-right wing groups to be included as proscribed terrorism organisations, warning they are a growing threat to the nation.
“The government rejects Senator Keneally’s thesis that there is rising extremism in Australia,” Mr Hawke told Sky News on Thursday.
“There is extreme elements (sic), fringe elements in Australia that need tackling, they are being tackled.
“What we have here is increased social cohesion, not increasing extremism.”
Intelligence agencies have warned about the rising threat of extreme right-wing groups.
ASIO‘s most recent annual report – released in October 2020 – said there has been a growth in its investigations related to extreme right-wing groups, individuals and emerging ideologies.
“Extremists such as neo-Nazis represent a serious, increasing and evolving threat to security,” the agency said in the report.
“The 2019 Christchurch attack continues to be drawn on for inspiration by right-wing extremists worldwide.”
Right-wing extremists now made up around a third of all ASIO counter-terrorism investigative subjects, the agency added.
Prior to 2016, that figure was 10 to 15 per cent.
Speaking to SBS News later on Thursday, Mr Hawke was asked if he stood by his earlier comments regarding the growth of extremism.
He said the government agreed with agency advice, and that he stood by his criticism of Senator Keneally naming the Christchurch shooter.
Government changes Senate motion to condemn far-left extremism
During a Senate motion brought by Labor to condemn far-right extremism, Senator Keneally accused the government of “whiting out” the advice of intelligence agencies on the threat of far-right wing group.
The government amended the motion to include condemnation of far-left extremism, communism and anarchism.
“Today in the Senate we saw the government literally white-out a motion about right-wing extremism – they took out the references to white supremacy and right-wing extremism,” Senator Keneally said.
“They sought to do a ‘whataboutism’ with groups like Antifa.
“When we have groups that have been proscribed in the United Kingdom, that have been proscribed in Canada that have local chapters here or direct links to groups here, and we are not proscribing those groups here – what we are sending is exactly what the right wing extremists want – a message that we are turning a blind eye and letting them grow and fester.”
There are growing calls to proscribe hard right-wing extremist organisations as terror groups after a gathering of neo-Nazis at the Grampians was widely condemned last week.
Over a dozen men with hooded masks were pictured with a burning a cross in the national park, with witnesses saying they performed Nazi salutes.
Canada has also become the first country to proscribe the extremist group The Proud Boys as a terrorist organisation.
