Sydney Trains stands down employee after neo-Nazi protest

Sydney Trains has distanced itself from an employee who was spotted at a neo-Nazi protest outside of NSW Parliament.

Sydney Trains has told an employee not to attend work while it investigates reports he attended an anti-Jewish protest on Saturday, 8 November.

According to reports from Nine, the employee was one of 60 members of the National Socialist Network, or neo-Nazis, who protested the “Jewish lobby” and shouted Hitler Youth slogans.

“Sydney Trains is very concerned with the matter,” a spokesperson said in a statement also shared with HR Leader.

“In the interim, Sydney Trains has directed the employee not to attend work while the matter is examined.

“The employee’s role is frontline, and his actions are not supported by Sydney Trains or Transport for NSW and are not in line with public sector values.”

According to Transport NSW’s Code of Conduct, published in October, employees are expected to “consider people equally without prejudice or favour” and “place the public interest over personal interest”.

“Each of us has a responsibility to conduct ourselves in a manner that reflects our core values in action,” the Code of Conduct set out.

NSW Police said it is investigating how the neo-Nazis were able to hold a rally, with the Commissioner Mal Lanyon blaming a “communication error”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was critical of NSW Police for not taking the protest to court after being notified of it a week prior.

“The fact that these Nazis in NSW notified the police and were essentially given permission to conduct such a hateful activity is completely unacceptable,” Albanese told ABC Radio.

The Prime Minister added free speech was not about the right to engage in anti-Semitic behaviour and encourage hatred, division and violence.

“This rise of people openly identifying as Nazis has no place in Australia,” Albanese added.