Growing calls to deport neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell back to New Zealand have sparked a fiery response from the nation’s Prime Minister.
Sewell, 32, was allegedly among a group of men dressed in black who stormed Camp Sovereignty in Kings Domain on Sunday afternoon following the March for rally in Melbourne’s CBD.
Footage showed Sewell and neo-Nazi supporters slashing out at people gathered at the camp, the site of remains of Indigenous people from 38 clans.
There was more chaos two days later when Sewell gatecrashed Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s press conference.
Sewell is understood to be an n citizen, despite being born in New Zealand.
Kiwi Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was forced to weigh into the saga, amid growing calls from Aussies for Sewell to be deported back to New Zealand.
He distanced his country from the controversy, claiming that it was ‘s problem.
‘He sounds like a pretty awful human being, and he’s an n citizen so I’ll let that run its course,’ he told reporters in Auckland on Thursday.
Sewell was charged with a string of offences, including violent disorder, affray, assault by kicking, discharge missile and other offences.
He currently remains in custody but will reappear in court on Friday for a bail application.
Detectives continue to investigate the alleged incident in the King’s Domain and urge anyone with any information or footage that may assist police to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
In recent days, almost 100,000 supporters have signed a change.org petition calling for Sewell to be deported to his country of birth.
Petition organiser Constitutional Reformist, called on a change to the n Citizenship Act 2007 to enable a High Court deportation.
‘We are not backing down. We are evolving. And we are demanding a legal system that protects communities, not extremists,’ they said.
The approach of the petition has two steps: the first is to revoke Sewell’s n citizenship ‘through a court-authorised process, based on his violent extremist conduct and likely dual nationality’.
It also demands urgent reform of the n Citizenship Act 2007.
‘So that individuals convicted of serious hate-fuelled crimes can have their citizenship revoked and be subject to deportation with full judicial oversight and constitutional safeguards,’ the petition states.
Home affairs minister Tony Burke said that Sewell ‘clearly hates modern ‘.
‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he renounces his citizenship here anyway,’ he said on Wednesday.