National Socialist Network and White Australia activist Joel Davis will remain behind bars for using the phrase “rhetorical rape” after being refused bail by a magistrate despite his pregnant partner being overdue to give birth.
Mr Davis, 30, was arrested in Sydney on Thursday over a Telegram post earlier this month asking his followers to respond to an X post by federal MP Allegra Spender where she called for the NSN to be prosecuted over a protest against the Jewish lobby on November 8.
He was charged with “using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence” and refused police bail to face Sydney’s Bail Division Court on Friday, where magistrate Magistrate Daniel Covington determined he was an unacceptable risk of reoffending.
Mr Davis’s lawyer, Liam McKibbin, argued for bail so his client could care for his pregnant partner, who was due to give birth on the day of the Australian Federal Police raided him over the post, ABC News reported.
“His partner who he lives with in Bondi is nine months pregnant,” he said.
“Her due date was yesterday. They had a home birth planned with a midwife.”
Mr McKibbin argued his client’s post did not include any violence, and told the court Mr Davis had recently been fired for his role in the November 8 “abolish the Jewish lobby” protest but had a strong family presence in Sydney.
But Prosecutor Kristen Wakefield told the court Ms Spender was fearful of her and her family’s safety, and said the post “was encouraging a wide audience to engage in the violence against the victim” and said there was “malicious intent”.
Mr Davis will face court again on December 3.
The arrest came after Ms Spender said she had referred the post to law enforcement, and that she had a “lot of confidence” in the AFP, which admitted late last month that it was using its new NSI teams against the NSN even though they were a non-criminal and non-violent group.
Mr Davis also responded to criticism over the post by telling 9News in an interview that he did not condone rape, emphasised his use of the word “rhetorically”, and said the media should focus on rapes committed by immigrants.
“It’s rhetorical, I said ‘rhetorical’, people should engage in spirited rhetoric, in a democracy we should convey ideas hotly, these are very important – this is about freedom of speech and the future of our nation,” he said.
Video:
Full Channel 9 interview with White Australia’s Joel Davis about the National Socialist Network’s “abolish the Jewish lobby” protest in Sydney on Saturday.
Only a few seconds made the 6pm news. pic.twitter.com/1deVQZmiis
— The Noticer (@NoticerNews) November 10, 2025
Last month Mr Davis was charged with “offensive behaviour” over a peaceful counter-protest at a far-left rally in Melbourne, in January he was arrested in Adelaide and is still fighting a “Nazi symbol” charge over a belt buckle with an eagle on it, and in December his home was raided over a protest where the NSN displayed a banner saying “Jews hate freedom”.
The arrest comes after another participant in the November 8 “abolish the Jewish lobby” protest, South African national Matthew Gruter, had his visa cancelled by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke at 10pm on Monday and was raided and taken to an immigration detention centre at 4am the next morning.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has also introduced new laws in response to the rally that aim to criminalise “Nazi ideology and conduct”, while Liberal MP Julian Leeser has demanded the federal government to review electoral laws in order to stop White Australia from forming a political party.
White Australia’s NSW leader Jack Eltis said on Friday the organisation had signed up the 1,500 members required to register with the Australian Electoral Commission, saying it was “well ahead” of schedule.
Header image: Left, right, Joel Davis at the Jewish lobby protest (supplied).
