Lead
Thomas Sewell, a convicted criminal and leader of the neo-Nazi group the National Socialist Network (NSN), has been posting antisemitic and homophobic videos on Instagram from a multi-million-dollar property north of Melbourne, according to reporting by ABC News. The account was shut down by parent company Meta on Tuesday evening for violating community guidelines, the same outlet reported.
The activity comes weeks after the federal government formally listed the NSN as a hate group, and while Sewell is challenging that listing in the High Court. He has also said he wants to register a White Australia party.
Coverage Comparison
The two reports on this story, both from ABC News, examine different threads of the saga. The first thread focuses on the Instagram account itself, which reveals the financial home, obscuring Sewell's face with an Anglo-Saxon mask used in NSN propaganda. The second thread picks up on a consequence: after ABC informed Boxing Victoria of Sewell's presence at a boxing gym in Diamond Creek that trains children, the governing body suspended the gym's owner.
At the same time, the second report — as ABC has written — confirms that Meta, the social media company, shut down the Instagram account for violating its guidelines. This account was operating from a luxurious house at Hurstbridge, according to one report, another detail that appeared in the original disclosure.
Both reports corroborate the government's formal designation of NSN as a hate group — a step that happened last month — and note that Sewell is fighting that listing in the High Court. The first article was directly critical of Sewell, quoting a Jewish community leader who said social media platforms are enabling extremism and violence.
The second focused on the gym's relationship to schools and preschools, quoting Boxing Victoria's statement condemning racism and white supremacy. And although both are under ABC News's byline, the second piece adds a more institutional or sporting dimension to disprove the public's already-revealed private leaders.
Key Claims
- Multiple reports from ABC News demonstrate that Thomas Sewell was posting antisemitic and homophobic messages on Instagram from his home north of Melbourne, despite his face being obscured by a mask in the videos.
- The government has officially listed the National Socialist Network as a hate group.
- Sewell is challenging the government's ban in the High Court as part of a bid to establish a White Australia party.
- The Instagram account was reportedly suspended by Meta for violating its community guidelines.
- He was living in a multi-million-dollar property in Hurstbridge, Melbourne — as reported by ABC News.
- Boxing Victoria has since suspended the owner of a Diamond Creek boxing gym after learning that Sewell had attended the facility.
Perspectives
Sewell's perspective: Sewell continues to post and challenge the ban through the courts, framing his efforts to establish a White Australia party as part of his vision. He voluntarily obscures his face in his videos, perhaps to avoid identification. His actions are consistent with his stated ideology.
Government response: Authorities under Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke have said agencies are "constantly monitoring for any potential breaches of our hate speech laws — the strongest such laws in Australian history." The federal government formally listed his group as a hate group last month, indicating explicit prohibition.
Public and community perspective: The governing body Boxing Victoria's statement condemned "racism, white supremacy, and neo-Nazi ideology in the strongest possible terms" and stressed its commitment to inclusion. A Jewish community leader warned of the dangers of such extremism.
Conclusion
Sewell continues to broadcast online even as he faces legal battles and government restrictions, this report shows. While Meta's suspension curtails one channel, official channels are likely to remain active.