As part of an internal investigation into alt-right extremist links, the New South Wales Nationals say they have identified 18 people of interest in their youth wing of the party.



Key points: An ABC story on the weekend revealed alt-right links inside the NSW Young Nationals

An ABC story on the weekend revealed alt-right links inside the NSW Young Nationals ASIO has revealed it is monitoring the situation

ASIO has revealed it is monitoring the situation The NSW Young Nationals suspended memberships temporarily after the report

Two of the 18 were members of the NSW Young Nationals executive and their positions have now been suspended.

Following a report by the ABC's Background Briefing, ASIO on Monday said it was looking into links between the Young Nationals and extreme right-wing nationalists.

ASIO's director-general of security, Duncan Lewis, told a Senate Estimates hearing in Canberra on Monday the organisation was monitoring far-right extremists.

Mr Lewis said he had become aware of concerns after the ABC report which uncovered a covert plot by Australia's alt-right movement to join major political parties and influence their policy agendas from within.



It included reports of NSW Young Nationals members in Sydney attending a secret men's-only fight club set up by some of the country's most prominent alt-right nationalists.

The ABC understands NSW Young Nationals members Thomas Brasher, Clifford Jennings and Oscar Tuckfield — who were named in the Background Briefing story — are among the 18 people of interest.

NSW Nationals director Ross Cadell said he was surprised to hear ASIO was monitoring but welcomed it.

"Extremism and the politics of hate need to be shut down wherever they rise and if ASIO's involvement helps rid our party of these insurgents then it is only a good thing," he said.

Mr Cadell said an internal investigation had been running for two weeks and the 18 people identified were members of both the NSW Young Nationals and NSW Nationals, because of the party structure.

"We're gathering some social media content and history of that and also contacting them with a number of questions seeking their reason for joining and their motivation," Mr Cadell said.

Nationals keen on 'natural justice'

The NSW Nationals called a special meeting for Monday of their Constitution and Ethics Committee.

The NSW Young Nationals also temporarily suspended memberships following the ABC's report.

"All our data and investigations to this point will be put in front of the people on the committee and we'll start taking some concrete action," Mr Cadell said.

"We have to give some natural justice and give these people a chance to explain if they think we're wrong, but I wouldn't like to see it taking much longer than two or three weeks."

Mr Lewis said ASIO was monitoring an increase of recruiting by far right wing groups.

But he tempered his comments by saying "legitimate" activity by right-wing advocates was not ASIO's concern.

"If it is right-wing advocacy that's at foot, and there's no violent or foreign interference dimension to it, then that's not ASIO's business," Mr Lewis said.

"But if there is the prospect of there being violence or there is some sort of foreign influence dimension to it, then it's of interest to us."

Young Nationals chair Jock Sowter said the party rejects all forms of racism and hate.

"For the last 99 years we've been a party focused on regional New South Wales and we will continue to be," he said.