If you believe Donald Trump’s
win and rise of the far-right is
an American problem, think
again. Extremist groups are
growing in Australia and it’s
women who are leading the
charge. By Robert Hardy
“
Aussie pride! Nationwide!” shouts a
woman with dark sunglasses and
a high ponytail, proudly holding
an Australian flag high over her
head, as she marches towards
the rally against refugees. Her
fingernails are painted silver
and blue with the initials of the True Blue Crew, a
“pro-Australian” group for “traditional morals, values
and Aussie pride”. Dozens of police officers in protective
armour watch her walk past under the gunmetal grey sky.
She’s wearing long pants and a dark hoodie to
keep warm in the fickle weather at Eltham, in Mel-
bourne’s north-east, where a large rowdy crowd has
gathered to protest against a plan to house refugee
families in an unused section of a nearby nursing
home. A chill wind whips signs reading “Love AustraliaAUSTRALIA
WING
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