A far-right group is planning a rally to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Cronulla riots despite heavy resistance from the local council, and is selling T-shirts bearing the slogan “Sydney is fun: Cronulla is a riot”.
The Party for Freedom, led by Nick Folkes, has for months been planning a “memorial rally” at Cronulla on 12 December to mark 10 years since the race riots that enveloped the region and sparked a wave of violence across Sydney.
But it is facing a number of hurdles after two applications to New South Wales police for permits to hold the event were refused. The Sutherland shire mayor, Carmelo Pesce, told Guardian Australia the council was considering applying to the supreme court for an injunction to stop the group if it failed to get approval.
The group has yet to apply for a permit from the council to hold the event. The proposed has sparked concerns that it could inflame racial tensions.
The group is touting an all-star cast of Australia’s far right, with four speakers listed on a flyer it has been distributing to local residents’ letter boxes.
Sergio Redegalli, who made the “Say no to burqas” mural in Newtown, is listed as a speaker. Redegalli has also made glass plates for the event in the shape of Spartan shields overlaid with southern crosses.
“Limited edition” T-shirts designed by Redegalli with the slogan “Sydney is fun: Cronulla is a riot” can be purchased from the Party for Freedom website for $49.95, available only in sizes large and above.
Shermon Burgess, who until recently was the head of the far-right group United Patriots Front before resigning over a video that emerged online mocking him, is also scheduled to speak. Kim Vuga, who was one of the participants in SBS’s show Go Back to Where you Came From and has now started her own political party, is also slated to attend.
Pesce said the group had applied to the police for permits first to hold the event at Wanda beach, and then at Cronulla Mall. Both were refused. A third permit at Don Lucas reserve is believed to be pending, but Pesce said he thought it had also been refused.
“The third one we haven’t been given approval because council don’t want to come to the party,” Folkes told Guardian Australia. “Like a hot potato, it’s like nobody wants to touch it. It’s hard to get answers from the council and the police.
“Our intention is not to go down there and cause violence. We’ve got a good record dealing with police. We see it as an important time to mark the anniversary to stand up against all Muslim intimidation.”
Folkes said the shirts were just a “bit of Aussie larrikinism” to draw attention to the group’s purpose of marking the anniversary.
The group has still not applied separately to the council for the necessary permit to hold the event. Instead, the Party for Freedom has sought access to toilets.
“They’ve been told they need to put in a permit but they haven’t as yet,” Pesce said. “I’ve come back to my staff and told them they can’t apply for a permit for toilets before they apply for a permit to hold the event.”
“That applies for everyone. We’re not targeting that particular group. That’s just the thing they need to do. At this point in time they don’t have permission to use those particular areas. If they still come down we will need to take some sort of action.”
“I’m still looking at legal action from the supreme court to stop them coming anyway.”
The Party for Freedom posted on its website: “Today we face a battle against a corrupt political oligarchy that wants to restrict freedom of speech, and deny patriotic Australians the right to mark the 10nth Cronulla Riots anniversary in Cronulla. Regardless of the opposition from the political establishment, we will be gathering in Cronulla on 12 December 2015 to celebrate the 10-year anniversary.”
“The Sutherland shire council has contacted its legal team seeking an injunction against Party for Freedom in the hope of restricting freedom of speech. We will be going to court to fight the injunction in December.”
A NSW Police spokeswoman told Guardian Australia that police “are aware that some groups are hoping to plan a static rally in Cronulla on Saturday 12 December 2015. At this stage, no rally has been approved.”
“In the event any static rally does go ahead, a police operation will be in place to ensure the demonstration is carried out lawfully and in accordance with the law. Officers attached to the operation will also work to minimise the impact of any possible demonstration on the wider community.
“Police will not tolerate unlawful behaviour or any action that risks the safety of others; anyone caught breaking the law will be swiftly arrested and charged. The community can be assured the police are well prepared for any contingency and we are encouraging the public to go about their day as usual on 12 December 2015.”