By Isobel Roe, ABC
Matthew Gruter was photographed at a neo-Nazi rally outside of NSW parliament. Photo: Supplied to ABC
A neo-Nazi who protested to "abolish the Jewish lobby" outside New South Wales parliament has left the country, after the home affairs minister cancelled his visa.
South African national Matthew Gruter had his visa revoked last month after he was photographed at the front of a rally organised by the National Socialist Network (NSN).
Mr Gruter was taken into immigration detention by Australian Border Force officials in November, with the option of leaving voluntarily or challenging the decision with an appeal.
The ABC understands Mr Gruter left of his own accord on Thursday morning, with his wife and young child.
Mr Gruter was among 60 people wearing all black who stood outside NSW parliament on November 8, holding a sign that said "abolish the Jewish lobby".
Matthew Gruter has left the country with his wife and child. Photo: ABC/SUPPLIED
The NSN, which is looking to register a federal political party under the name 'White Australia', is against immigration.
The crowd was also heard chanting "blood and honour", a phrase associated with Hitler youth.
When he had his visa revoked, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he did not expect Mr Gruter to challenge the decision.
"We've got a really strong principle here: If you're on a visa, you're a guest in Australia," he said.
"If someone turns up for the purposes of just abusing people and wrecking the place and damaging the cohesion, you can ask them to leave."
Protest prompted NSW law changes
While he was in Australia, an online job profile for Mr Gruter listed his employer as multinational design, engineering and consulting firm Aurecon.
Information posted by his wife online suggested he came to Australia in 2022, sponsored by an Australian company.
Tony Burke previously said he did not expect Mr Gruter to appeal the decision. Photo: ABC/SUPPLIED
The protest outside parliament has prompted the NSW government to make further law changes to prevent neo-Nazi protests in the state.
It said it would amend the Crimes Act 1900 to ban conduct which indicated support for Nazi ideology, giving police more powers to make arrests at neo-Nazi demonstrations.
Displaying a Nazi symbol is already banned in NSW.
The November 8 protest leaders filed a 'Form 1' application to hold the rally with NSW Police, which was approved, and no offences were detected at the event.
-ABC
