Far-right, or do you just disagree with them?

There is no such equivalent in Australia, however aspersions of Nazi equivalency are regrettably part and parcel of the modern political debate where it is acceptable to equate an opponent’s beliefs with the worst possible motivations.

One Nation, Rise Up Australia and the Australian Liberty Alliance may not be mainstream but they don’t rise to the level of the extreme far-right, they look and sound similar to the nativist parties of Europe and some parts of the right in the United States.

The United Patriots Front and Reclaim Australia mobs which engaged in thuggish violence in a number of recent rallies in Melbourne have unmistakably crossed the line of acceptable behaviour. John Howard was often derided as an old school right-winger but he would never lend succour to groups engaging in street brawling just as he and Tony Abbott sought to restrain the growth of Pauline Hanson in the late 90s.

There is what seems like a predetermined tendency to fear contrary and especially unapologetic conservative opinions as tantamount to far-right politics. Despite the absence of any of the characteristics of the extreme right mentioned above, the mere affirmation of a conservative mindset and a belief in things such as border integrity and the maintenance of social traditions is a red flag signalling malicious intent.