A former neo-Nazi has shared insights into his journey of deradicalisation during his testimony at the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. Identified as ADC, he described how he was misled by “falsehoods” and vowed to transform his life.
The Royal Commission is investigating how existing programs and policies can better assist individuals susceptible to extremist ideologies. During his testimony, ADC recounted his path towards neo-Nazi groups over the past two decades.
He expressed difficulty in identifying specific moments that could have altered his trajectory towards radicalisation, stating, “It’s those little things that jade you.” Nonetheless, he is committed to ensuring that neither he nor his children remain “closed to other cultures” and the wider world. Reflecting on his past, ADC acknowledged, “There’s no excuses, I made my own decisions. But I can look back now and think… things could have been different.”
Raised in a household with British migrants in Victoria during the 1970s, ADC described a “British-centric” upbringing that left him struggling to connect with his peers. “I couldn’t read and write… I sort of just floated through school,” he recalled. His early exposure to conservative and anti-immigration sentiments came primarily from his mother and the skinhead subculture.
While he initially shared some views with right-wing groups, ADC became actively involved in a neo-Nazi organisation in Australia in the early 2000s, officially joining in 2005. This decision followed a turbulent period in his life marked by an assault from an individual belonging to a minority community during his time with a foreign defence force. After sustaining serious injuries and feeling frustrated by the lack of justice, he became increasingly involved with the extremist group. “I see [the incident] as quite a pivotal point in me changing and becoming extremely active in the right wing [group],” he stated.
Initially, ADC felt a strong bond with the neo-Nazi members, whom he admired for their education and fitness. However, his perspective gradually shifted as he forged connections with individuals outside the group, including those from minority communities in his private sector work. Although he initially left the neo-Nazi organisation in 2007, he returned after experiencing personal turmoil and feelings of isolation.
His final departure from the group came in 2013 after he met his current wife and faced challenges due to his extremist beliefs. “I’ve had people explain to me they would rather hang out with a murderer than someone like me,” he remarked. Through his interactions with diverse individuals, he began to recognize that true brotherhood was exhibited by those outside his former community. “I decided [the neo-Nazi group] was all a load of lies and I needed to leave and reinvent myself,” he concluded.
ADC highlighted one of the major “falsehoods” propagated within extremist circles: the belief that they were “the good guys.” He noted, “You are striving for the great white hope, but once you get exposed to things outside… you start to see in society you are actually the bad guys.” He emphasized that many in these groups are simply “angry people with nowhere to direct their anger.”
Support from his wife has been instrumental in his decision to disengage from the neo-Nazi group. Additionally, he has participated in the Exit program, which assists individuals seeking to leave extremist communities. Currently, ADC is working on removing tattoos that bear neo-Nazi symbols, stating, “I don’t want them on my body… they’re not part of who I am anymore.”
