eExtremists

Upon opening the link for the first time to the Australia First Party's website (http://ausfirst.alphalink.com.au/) I am greeted with the eureka stockade flag, a flag which some see as fast becoming a sign of racism (http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/mp/6707774/eureka-flag-hijacked-by-racists) and a couple of pictures of old white guys. If the name “The Australia First Party” didn't raise my suspicions that I was going to be clicking on a link that directs me to a website spouting racist garbage, the combination of old white guys and the eureka flag on the homepage sure did.

The Australia First Party's website is the host to numerous articles including the subtlety titled yet to be released article “Overseas Students go home!' and the article entitled “Australia Day 2010: Hold High The National Flag! Hold High The Eureka Flag!' which calls the media 'vile' for its condemnation of the youths involved in the Cronulla Riots and with the revolutionary vigor of Maximilien Robespierre, states 'The national resistance is growing. We will reclaim our country'. With statements like that, it makes me wonder why the leader Graeme Campbell of the Australia First party, doesn't just embrace his inner Neo-Nazi self already and shave his head, get a couple of swastika tattoos and change the name of his party to something more fitting, like the Nazi Party.

Groups like this have been allowed to flourish since the advent of the Internet.This is due to the fact groups like this don't get much exposure on television, and any exposure they did get would be negative similar if they were to publish their views in one of the popular newspapers, due to anti discriminatory laws. On the Internet however, they can say as much as they want, without fear of censorship, with relative ease. This is a dangerous situation as it allows similarly minded bigots to congregate. This can lead to organized violence against certain groups in society that bigots usually target;black, Jewish or homosexual people.

The anonymity that the internet allows people to have means that people can discuss their extreme views on the internet in a meeting place that isn't tangible. Compared to the times where only people wearing white hoods would discuss such views, the Internet allows the bigots a hood that can mask their identity more effectively then one made of fabric. People that do not fit the bill for right wing extremists, may be accessing websites like Aryan nation or more more moderate ones, and contributing to the hate being spouted.

So where does the Australia First party place on the extremity level? Their website could almost be one of a legitimate Australian political party, although major political party's have slightly more modern website design, the content including the mission statement with xenophobic notions such as wanting to “Abolish Multiculturalism “ I am pretty sure the Australia First Party is an extremist group hidden behind a suit and a bad haircut.