Study finds over half of sovereign citizens believe violence may be justified
A government survey found 1.8% of Australians identify as sovereign citizens. Over half believe violence may be justified.
A government criminology institute surveyed 9,951 Australians in late 2024 and profiled people aligned with the sovereign citizen movement. More than a third support violent extremism.
More than half think violence may be needed to combat perceived injustice. Supporters were more likely to be male.
They were also more likely to be under 35, own firearms, serve in the military, or have had contact with the criminal justice system. Many reported negative life events.
They also reported conspiracy-focused thinking, strong anti-government views and misogynistic attitudes. The study followed public attention after sovereign citizen Dezi Freeman killed two Victorian police officers in August 2025.
Freeman was later killed in a police raid near the Victoria-NSW border.
Why it mattersResearchers who study radicalization now have data on who is drawn to the sovereign citizen movement and its violence risk. This helps police and security agencies understand the threat.
AustraliaAustralia faces a documented radicalization risk from the sovereign citizen movement, which has already led to police deaths and is growing globally.
