A campaign known as “Australia Month” has stirred controversy in the wake of Australia Day, raising concerns about its far-right associations and the use of artificial intelligence-generated content to promote a month-long celebration of white identity.
Ben Shand, a member of the Australian Proud Boys who goes by the online alias “The Dusty Bogan,” initiated the campaign by launching a petition that aimed to have January recognized as “Australia Month” by the government. While ostensibly framed as a patriotic effort, a closer look reveals its far-right roots. The Telegram channel associated with the campaign has shared links from individuals known for their far-right affiliations, including Daniel Walker and explicitly neo-Nazi accounts. Shand himself has not minced words about the campaign’s racial motives, likening it to a proposal for a “white history month” in the United States.
Limited mainstream support:
Despite its provocative nature, the “Australia Month” petition has garnered just over a thousand signatures in a month, significantly fewer than other petitions, such as one advocating for the preservation of a local bakery in Sydney, which has amassed over 4,400 signatures in the same timeframe. This relatively low level of support indicates that the idea has failed to gain mainstream traction.
While the campaign may not have widespread support, it has made its presence felt on social media platforms. The hashtag #AustraliaMonth has intermittently trended on X (formerly Twitter) throughout January. Numerous users have used this hashtag, seemingly unaware of the campaign’s controversial origins. Even One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts posted a tweet seemingly in support of the campaign early on January 1st. Furthermore, Dave Pellowe, the organizer of the Church and State conference, partnered with the campaign to offer discounted rates for the event, lending it some level of visibility among fringe figures.
AI-generated content and imagery
A striking feature of the “Australia Month” campaign has been its use of AI-generated content. Surreal and ultra-nationalistic images portraying white individuals saluting in Australian settings have been widely circulated. These images often include grotesque distortions, such as extra hands, indicative of artificial intelligence involvement. Aldyn Hayes, a controversial figure known for being transphobic and a Trump supporter, has been particularly active in promoting the campaign. His posts flood social media with AI-generated images, featuring white men performing American-style salutes to the Australian flag at barbeque events, often with glaring errors like floating limbs and hands protruding out of chests.
Despite being characterized as nationalistic fan art, these AI-generated images have transcended the confines of the “Australia Month” campaign. For example, a rural service station that shared one of these images received over 33,000 engagements and 8,600 shares. This demonstrates the potential for such content to reach wider audiences beyond the campaign’s immediate followers.
Limited prospects for official endorsement
As time passes, the prospects for official government or political party endorsement of the “Australia Month” celebration appear increasingly remote. The controversial nature of the campaign, its far-right associations, and the use of AI-generated content have likely dissuaded mainstream support.
Despite limited mainstream support, the campaign has gained visibility on social media, largely due to the use of AI-generated imagery. However, it remains to be seen whether this controversial initiative will ever receive official endorsement in Australia, as concerns over its far-right associations persist.
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