The Nativist Games - Beneath the Flags

In November 2015, ABC’s Background Briefing featured a nineteen-year-old Matthew Grant, referred to as “Father Grant” by friends, who had spoken at Reclaim Australia and United Patriots Front rallies. Grant described himself as “a bit of a Bible-thumper … a really fervent Christian man,” freshly out of school, working as a security guard, and living with his grandparents. He stood out at rallies for his polished attire, a brown suit jacket, shirt, and red tie, designed to convey a "cultural traditionalist" image of maturity amidst the shaved heads and tattoos.

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He also spoke of his background in philosophy and how the United Patriots Front tapped into that, seeking an “intellectual viewpoint” to bolster its ideological message.

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When Matthew Grant appears in forums like SPIES in our government!, he doesn’t hide his position — his politics are openly nativist, tied to the idea of putting “Australia First.” At the centre of his message is the revival of the Australian Natives Association (ANA), an organisation with a long and controversial history.

The original ANA, founded in Melbourne in 1871, was a mutual-benefit society for white, native-born men. It championed federation and was instrumental in shaping what later became the White Australia Policy. Its version of “nativism” excluded Indigenous Australians, migrants, and anyone outside the British settler lineage.

In “On Australian Nationalism with Matthew Grant”, Grant joins Davis to explore the history of Australian nationalism, particularly the role of the White Australia Policy within it. In Grant’s own words, “We believe in the principle of a White Australia, both on economic, cultural and social grounds.”

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On August 7, the Australian Natives Association (ANA) Victoria gathered for its 2025 Annual General Meeting, they have also circulated a map showing four cities of registration: Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, and Brisbane.

By presenting themselves as formally established in these capitals, the ANA is signalling ambition: a desire to transform from a niche Victorian revival group into a national network.

The Australian Natives’ Association uses the red flag, blue flag, and Eureka flag.

On 25 April (ANZAC Day), the account auspill was reposting content from the Australian Natives’ Association

The Instagram account of the Australian Natives’ Association follows Damian Richardson, the National Workers Alliance, British Australia Community, The Noticer News and Auspilled

Across media statements, Matt Trihey was named as the organiser of Melbourne March for Australia event before later stepping down.

Damien Richardson is linked to events organised by the National Workers Alliance and The No Goat Show, including appearances in Canberra: Cafe Locked Out with Michael Gray Griffith.

In the next blog, we’ll examine the intersection between the so-called sovereign citizens “Red Flag Movement”, groups advocating to live under alternative jurisdictions and evangelical fundamentalist networks, highlighting how both are linked to nativist ideology.