Blair Cottrell shouts on a megaphone during a rally. Photo/Getty Images
Blair Cottrell shouts on a megaphone during a rally. Photo/Getty Images
Receiving a letter from your bank saying they'll be closing your account is hardly a laughing matter.
But when far-right nationalist Blair Cottrell received that very letter, apparently the first thing he did was 'laugh out loud'.
"Lol, world-communism in effect," he posted to his profile on Gab, one of the few social media platforms he hasn't been banned from.
Sharing a photo of the letter he received from Westpac Banking Corporation, Cottrell told his followers it was due to "international ethnic-genocide of white people".
"They're closing my bank accounts now too and won't even tell me why," he said.
The letter doesn't elaborate on what these 'commercial imperatives' are, leaving Cottrell's followers to rant about discrimination in the comments section.
"I'd leave a cent in it so they have to mail you a cheque," commented one Gab user.
"That is absolutely disgraceful. Is that even legal?" queried another.
"I don't see how it can be legal to terminate a contract without supplying a reason for doing it," commented another user.
Cottrell has long been a controversial political figure. Photo/Getty Images
"'Commercial imperatives' is not a reason. Unless all similar accounts are being closed as well, you have a good case for discrimination. Their claim not to have to give a reason is invalid."
This isn't the first time Cottrell has been banned by a corporation. Late last year, he was booted off PayPal — which he had been using to fundraise for an appeal of his conviction under Victoria's Racial and Religious Tolerance Act for participating in the mock Islamic beheading by the United Patriots Front in Bendigo in 2015.
After PayPal pulled the plug, Cottrell told his supporters they could donate to support his appeal by directly depositing money into his bank account.
That could have played a role in Westpac's decision.
Convinced the bank's move was intended to distance itself from his controversial views, Cottrell pointed out that he's not the first to be de-platformed by a major bank for personal views or reputation.
"It's interesting to note that in 2015, Julie Hoskins of a local community group in Bendigo, Victoria had her Bendigo Bank account closed while challenging the local government's planned Islamic Mosque, school & housing development at court," he wrote.
Westpac closes account of Aussie far-right nationalist
"I am currently engaged in a legal battle against the State and it's (sic) Attorney-General for 'intent to incite ridicule of Muslims on Facebook' and my bank just closed my account as well. Also considering the slander coming from the mainstream media, is financial/social terrorism a government response to any individual who stands up to it?"
When news.com.au contacted Westpac for comment, a spokesperson said: "We are unable to comment on individual customer matters due to our customer privacy and confidentiality obligations."
