Barely six weeks into his new job, NSW top cop Mal Lanyon has vowed to get to the bottom of a command-level decision to allow the gathering in Sydney's Macquarie Street on Saturday morning in the wake of laws banning the incitement of racial hatred.
The protest drew the immediate ire of Premier Chris Minns and Jewish community groups, after a group of several dozen black-clad men draped a large banner across the gates of NSW parliament carrying the slogan "Abolish the Jewish Lobby".
It's believed those involved were members of the National Socialist Network, which has staged numerous protests in capital cities and towns over the past couple of years including anti-immigration rallies in Sydney and Melbourne.
"Part of me wrestling with those distressing images ... is that you don't want to give these pissants more oxygen," Mr Minns told reporters on Saturday
"I know holding this media conference does exactly that but the truth of the matter is, I've decided that if you give them an inch, they'll take a mile.
"And does anyone believe this is their last rally? Does anyone think after dipping their toe into racism in Sydney, they're going to stop here?
"I want them to be met with the clear and unambiguous message from the government, from political leaders, from civic life from average NSW residents that we've got no interest in neo-Nazis in Sydney and in Australia."
Mr Minns flagged the probability the government would need to give police more legislative powers to deal with such "naked hatred and racism on Sydney's streets".
Mr Lanyon conceded police had received notice the rally was going to take place more than a week ago but said he had been caught off guard by it himself.
"There was a communication error within the police force for which I did not personally know that today's protest was taking place," he explained.
"The protest was taken to be authorised," he said.
"It was assessed by the police area command at the time based on the information that was present."
The decision had been made by officers charged with dealing with some 2000 protests each year, the commissioner said.
"Obviously (they) need to make an assessment based on what ... they were comfortable with ... that it was not one that they needed to actually take objection to."
Mr Lanyon said that process would be fully reviewed.
"I think it's essential to understand what took place, what was considered, how that was overlaid against the appropriate legislation that exists at the moment," he said.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies President David Ossip branded the rally disgraceful.Â
"The chilling images and despicable words of hate which were uttered today should never find a home or be accepted in our society, especially outside the heart of our democracy," he said.
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