Since the 1960s,the far right in Australia has oscillated between movements that contest elections, such as One Nation, and a ‘direct action’ approachThe arrest of an individual allegedly connected to Reclaim Australia on anti-terrorism charges made headlines last week,but it is not the first time that the Australian far right has been accused of acts of political violence. For example, Jim Saleam, and then of National Action,was jailed in 1991 for his part in a shotgun attack upon African National Congress representative Eddie Funde, while Australian Nationalist Movement leader Jack van Tongeren spent 13 years in a Western Australian prison for arson offences. At other moments in time, and far right groups own swung the other way,seeking to build “mass parties” and contest elections. Thus since the 1960s, the far right in Australia has oscillated, or as the saying goes,“between the bomb and the poll box”, often with the same individuals involved, and merely jumping from organisation to organisation. Related: Terrorism accused says charges a 'conspiracy against the patriot movement' Related: What you need to know approximately One Nation's Malcolm Roberts and ‘sovereign citizens’ | Jason Wilson Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com