How the Left Stopped Fascists From Organizing in Australia
Far-right organizing in Australia is nothing new. But time and again, coalitions of anti-fascists, union militants, and community organizations have stymied the far right’s rise. That history stands as a resource for the Left to draw from today.
Far-right protesters at an anti-Muslim “Reclaim Australia” rally in Sydney, Australia, on April 4, 2015. (Anthony Brewster / Flickr)
If there was any doubt before, 2021 made it clear that leftists in Australia have to take the threat of the far right seriously. The media exposed the extreme right’s activities nationwide, as well as their links to overseas neo-Nazis. The police arrested far-right activists in relation to violent crimes, and on top of this, the far right mobilized as part of the anti-vaccine, anti-lockdown movement, which was centered in Melbourne. They often appropriated trade union uniforms and symbols to lend their cause legitimacy.
On the electoral front, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is hoping to capture Senate seats, while Craig Kelly and Clive Palmer have teamed up in the United Australia Party to take advantage of anti-lockdown and anti-vax sentiments.
These developments have prompted debates among the center and the Left about how to respond. While the situation in some respects is a new one, Australian history has seen its fair share of fascists and ultranationalists. And more important, the workers’ movement and the Left have beat them back before. It’s more than a history of victories — it’s a gold mine of valuable experiences that can help inform our response today.
This article is for subscribers only. Please login or subscribe to access our full archives and beautiful print and digital magazine starting at just $3 a month.