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A top consulting firm that employed a South African national who attended a neo-Nazi rally in Sydney earlier this month is scrambling to contain internal panic and unrest among staff, the Daily Mail can reveal.
About 60 black-clad men rallied outside NSW Parliament House on November 8 at a protest organised by the National Socialist Network (NSN), where a banner reading ‘Abolish the Jewish lobby’ was unfurled.
Among those photographed in the front row was Matthew Gruter, who moved to Sydney with his influencer wife Nathalie Fayherbe Gruter in 2022.
Online job records listed Gruter as a senior civil engineer in water and wastewater at the multinational consulting giant Aurecon – a position that requires visa sponsorship.
That visa was torn up on Monday afternoon by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, meaning he’s out of a job and must leave Australia before he’s deported.
Before Gruter was given his marching orders, an Aurecon spokesperson told ABC News last week it was ‘looking into the matter’. The company did not respond to our multiple requests for comment.
However, internal emails seen by the Daily Mail over the weekend revealed a company in crisis mode, with employees instructed to remain silent if contacted by journalists.
‘An article has been released that refers to an Aurecon colleague many of you will have worked closely with,’ read an email to staff sent out on Friday.
Matthew Gruter’s employer Aurecon told ABC News last week it was ‘looking into the matter’ after he was pictured unmasked at a neo-Nazi rally in Sydney earlier this month
National Socialist Network protesters gathered outside NSW Parliament House next to a banner with the words, ‘Abolish the Jewish lobby’
‘This article refers to the individual’s political beliefs… It also mentions their role at Aurecon and their involvement in engineering projects for government clients.’
Staff were told the company was ‘following a formal process’ and warned: ‘If you are contacted by anyone (clients, media or otherwise), please do not respond and refer the query to [Major Projects Director] Liam Wythes.’
This publication understands Aurecon employs a number of Jewish engineers.
Before his visa was cancelled, the Daily Mail understands that Gruter was already laying the groundwork to fight for his job – and his work visa – by appealing to the implied freedom of political communication.
This implied freedom – different to a constitutional right to free speech – ensures that laws do not unduly burden communication about political and governmental matters.
Gruter appeared to deny he was involved in hate speech and was merely expressing his political views when communicating with a Nine Newspapers journalist last week.
‘Since when is loving and advocating for your own People [sic] a crime,’ he wrote via email.
‘I note that you intend to drag my wife into this and her ability to earn an income. Absolute scum behaviour and angle.
Neo-Nazi Matthew Gruter (right) and his influencer wife Nathalie (left), who we do not suggest holds racist views herself, live in Sydney after moving from South Africa several years ago
Gruter has been pictured wearing the NSN’s silver ‘Blood and Honour’ wristband – a phrase banned in Germany due to its connection to the Hitler Youth
‘You people want us unemployed, kicked out [onto] the street, want our family broken up and my newborn to starve.
‘All because I disagree with you politically. What you try to do to us personally is far worse than any of our general political ideology.’
Daily Mail does not suggest that Gruter’s wife shares his views.
In announcing the cancellation of Gruter’s visa, Mr Burke said: ‘If you are on a visa, you are a guest. If you’re a citizen, you’re a full member of the Australian family.
‘Like with any household, if a guest turns up to show hatred and wreck the household, they can be told it’s time to go home.’
Department of Home Affairs officials had earlier prepared a brief for the Albanese government to review Gruter’s visa after he was seen leading NSN training sessions and wearing the group’s silver ‘Blood and Honour’ wristband – a phrase banned in Germany due to its connection to the Hitler Youth.
Mr Burke had previously signalled a tougher stance on foreigners who ‘incite discord’.
It comes after NSW Police faced heavy criticism for allowing the rally to proceed, and two MPs – state MP Kellie Sloane and federal MP Allegra Spender – received death threats after condemning the demonstration.
Internal emails seen by the Daily Mail over the weekend revealed a company in crisis mode, with employees instructed to remain silent if contacted by journalists
Before his visa was cancelled by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke (pictured), the Daily Mail understands that Gruter was already laying the groundwork to fight for his job – and his work visa – by appealing to the implied freedom of political communication
Dozens of visas have been cancelled on the grounds of social cohesion, Mr Burke previously said. Among the highest-profile cases is rapper Kanye West, whose visa was blocked after he released a track titled Heil Hitler.
Meanwhile, reports suggest the NSN is exploring the creation of a ‘White Australia’ political party.
NSW Premier Chris Minns dismissed the idea, noting they would need 750 signatories to register and that, in doing so, ‘750 people… would effectively out themselves as associated with neo-Nazis’.
‘Anyone considering signing such paperwork needs to think long and hard about having their name publicly tied to Nazis in NSW,’ he added.
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