This is a first-hand report for 7NEWS Australia. I was at a small press conference in North Melbourne when self‑proclaimed neo‑Nazi Thomas Sewell unexpectedly turned up and began shouting at Victoria’s Premier, Jacinta Allan, forcing her to cut the event short.
Table of Contents
- What unfolded at the park
- Claims from Sewell and his response
- Premier's schedule and immediate aftermath
- Context: protest rights and the sacred site incident
- Safety, access and public order at media events
- Key quotes from the incident
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Conclusion
What unfolded at the park
The press conference was being held in an unusual location — a park on the outskirts of North Melbourne — when Thomas Sewell arrived unannounced. He began swearing at staff and hurling insults at the Premier, repeatedly asking why “Australians have the right to protest” while referencing a recent anti‑immigration march.
As Sewell yelled and confronted staff, the atmosphere became tense. Video captured him accusing the Premier of trying to ban protest and insisting he was keeping a “safe distance”. His shouting escalated and staff moved to shield the Premier.
"Why don't Australians have the right to protest?"
Within minutes, Jacinta Allan and Victorian Treasurer Jacqueline Sims left the scene and the press conference was abandoned. Ironically, this interruption occurred just as I had been asking the Premier about Sewell’s claim that a group of neo‑Nazis were “defending themselves” when they stormed a sacred Indigenous site over the weekend.
Claims from Sewell and his response
Sewell told reporters he had been “coincidentally walking by” on his way to court. He approached the media shortly after his arrival and attempted to make his case to cameras and journalists gathered at the park.
His appearance and aggressive questioning centred on two linked narratives: opposition to recent protest restrictions and his defence of other neo‑Nazis’ actions at a sacred Indigenous site over the weekend. The latter had been the focus of questions posed to the Premier before Sewell interrupted.
Premier's schedule and immediate aftermath
Although the press conference was abandoned, Premier Allan did not cancel her next commitment. She attended a scheduled conference shortly afterwards and addressed the crowd there.
Sewell’s presence and actions drew swift attention from those on site and later from the broader media. Staff reported that he swore at personnel and screamed insults during the ambush, contributing to the decision to end the outdoor briefing early.
Context: protest rights and the sacred site incident
The disruption fed into an already sensitive public conversation about protest rights and the behaviour of far‑right groups. Sewell referenced last Sunday’s anti‑immigration march as the backdrop for his questions about protest liberties, while the Premier was being questioned about neo‑Nazi involvement in the storming of a sacred Indigenous site during the weekend.
Those two issues — the right to protest and the protection of sacred sites — are often at the centre of heated public debate. This confrontation highlighted how those debates can spill into official media events and force elected officials and their staff to respond under pressure.
Safety, access and public order at media events
Incidents like this raise practical questions about keeping press conferences open to the public while ensuring the safety of officials and staff. In this case, organisers and staff made the decision to withdraw the Premier from the event to avoid further escalation.
When public figures are questioned about charged topics — including allegations involving extremist groups or contested public spaces — the risk of disruption increases. Effective crowd management and clear protocols for dealing with trespassers or agitators are essential to balancing access and safety.
Key quotes from the incident
- Sewell: "Why don't Australians have the right to protest?"
- Sewell: "Don't put your hands on me" (shouted while confronting staff).
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Was the Premier physically harmed?
No. The Premier was not reported to have been physically harmed. Staff moved to protect her and she left the event with the Treasurer; she later attended a scheduled conference.
- Who is Thomas Sewell?
Thomas Sewell is described in reporting as a self‑proclaimed neo‑Nazi. In this incident he attended the press conference unannounced and addressed the media after confronting the Premier and staff.
- Why did Sewell say he was there?
He claimed he was “coincidentally walking by” on his way to court, but then proceeded to loudly question and accuse the Premier about protest rights and recent events involving far‑right groups.
- Did the press conference continue?
No. The press conference was abandoned after the confrontation. The Premier fulfilled a subsequent commitment later the same day.
- What was the broader issue being discussed before the disruption?
Reporters had been asking the Premier about claims that neo‑Nazis were “defending themselves” when they stormed a sacred Indigenous site over the weekend — an issue that had already drawn public attention.
Conclusion
The North Melbourne ambush was a stark reminder of how charged the public conversation around protest, immigration and the treatment of sacred Indigenous sites has become. While the press conference was cut short, the Premier continued her duties later that day. Incidents like this underscore the challenges of managing public access to political events while protecting officials and ensuring media can do their job safely.
