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· collected 2026-08-24 · by Victoria Pengilley and Phoebe Pin
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has heard that an Australian Islamic-themed podcast network, OnePath Network, platformed Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy, also known as the conspiracy theorist "Sneako", despite receiving a $308,000 government grant for promoting social cohesion. Sneako was described by the Anti-Defamation League as one of the most prominent vectors for antisemitism, with an audience of millions. The Department of Home Affairs secretary, Stephanie Foster, said that any claim of inappropriate use of grant money would be investigated. OnePath Network's parent organization received the grant under a program designed to support independent multicultural media outlets.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
In short:
The antisemitism inquiry has been told that an American conspiracy theorist was platformed on a media network that received a social cohesion grant from the Commonwealth.
asserted
that → tell → Commonwealth
Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy, aka Sneako, was interviewed by an Australian Islamic-themed podcast prior to his deportation from Australia.
asserted
Balinthazy → interview → Australia
After questions on whether the grantee had acted inappropriately, the Department of Home Affairs secretary said any claim would be investigated.
uncertain
claim → act → Affairs
A Sydney-based podcast network that received federal grant funding to support social cohesion platformed a known conspiracy theorist who was deported and received a lifetime ban from Australia, an inquiry has heard.
asserted
inquiry → base → Australia
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion was told on Monday that American livestreamer Sneako, whose real name is Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy, was deported from Australia in May after initially being granted a visa.
uncertain
name → tell → visa
During his visit, Sneako was interviewed by OnePath Network, an Australian Islamic-themed podcast based in Sydney that was established in 2014.
asserted
that → interview → 2014
The Anti-Defamation League, an organisation that combats antisemitism, describes Sneako as "one of the most prominent vectors for antisemitism, white supremacy, and misogyny in the manosphere" with an audience of millions.
asserted
that → combat → millions
It said his following was predominantly made up of men and boys, and that his extremist and antisemitic content had been amplified across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
asserted
content → say → YouTube
The commission heard Sneako had previously been banned from YouTube, Twitch (an interactive livestreaming service) and TikTok.
asserted
Sneako → hear → YouTube
Public documents show OnePath Network's parent organisation, OPN Media Limited, received a $308,000 grant from the Department of Home Affairs under the independent multicultural media transformation and sustainability program.
asserted
organisation → show → program
The funding is designed to support social cohesion and the sustainability of independent multicultural media outlets.
asserted
funding → design → outlets
Department of Home Affairs secretary Stephanie Foster was shown a screenshot of the grant issued to OnePath Network during Monday's hearing.
asserted
Foster → show → hearing
"Would you agree that it's an entirely inappropriate use of grant money to platform Sneako, who is a person who received a lifetime ban from entering this country because of views he's expressed publicly?," counsel representing various Jewish bodies, Nicholas Bender SC, put to Ms Foster.
asserted
counsel → agree → Foster
Ms Foster said she was unaware of the screenshot.
asserted
she → say → screenshot
"We will always, when information is provided to us, investigate its validity and it's appropriateness," she said.
asserted
she → provide → validity
In response to the funding allocation, a spokesperson for OnePath Network said in a statement that OPN Media was among 60 recipients of the grants scheme.
asserted
Media → say → scheme
"OPN Media takes the work of the Royal Commission and its editorial responsibilities seriously," it said.
asserted
it → take → Commission
"Questions put to a witness during a hearing are not findings made by the Commission."
asserted
Questions → put → Commission
The OnePath interview with Sneako was titled, 'Who really is Sneako? The Manosphere, Islam and Israel' and was published in June.
asserted
Manosphere → title → June
The interview covered Sneako's rise to fame, his conversion to Islam, his time with Kanye West and his departure from the manosphere.
asserted
interview → cover → manosphere
"Just based on that information, that raises a very substantial concern that this grantee is acting inappropriately, doesn't it?," Mr Bender SC asked.
asserted
SC → base → concern
"As I said, we will always when we receive information that would suggest that the grantee was acting inappropriately investigate that," Ms Foster answered.
asserted
Foster → say → that
"I'm reluctant to say anymore at this stage so I don't prejudice that process."
asserted
I → say → process
Sneako's visa cancelled
asserted
visa → cancel → ?
Sneako's visa was cancelled, and he was deported from Australia in May after media reporting about his visit.
uncertain
he → cancel → visit
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said at the time that Sneako would never be allowed to return to Australia.
asserted
Sneako → say → Australia
"Our government has made it very clear we will use every power available to us to protect our community from people coming to this country to spread hatred," Mr Burke told News 24, formerly Sky.
asserted
Burke → make → News
The inquiry heard that, three weeks before Sneako's arrival in Australia, he led a crowd in a chant invoking violence against Jews and had published material online presenting Chabad as a criminal conspiracy.
asserted
he → hear → conspiracy
The Anti-Defamation League has documented a history of antisemitic conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial by Sneako, including his participation in an antisemitic chant in New York in April 2026.
asserted
League → document → April
Mr Bender SC asked Ms Foster whether Sneako should have been granted a visa in the first place.
asserted
Sneako → ask → place
"The decision-maker would have assessed the facts in front of them, and if the facts were identical to those that led to the cancellation of the visa, then it's not unreasonable to suggest that decision-maker would've made that decision in the first instance," she said.
asserted
she → assess → instance
"But without the facts I can't assume any of that."
asserted
I → assume → that
Mr Bender pressed Ms Foster further.
asserted
Bender → press → Foster
"Do you agree that somebody who had done those things, according to the department's policies, should not be granted a visa?," Mr Bender put to Ms Foster.
uncertain
Bender → agree → Foster
Ms Foster would not be drawn on the matter.
asserted
Foster → draw → matter
"I'm just not able to make those assumptions," she said.
asserted
she → make → assumptions
"If we have information which would preclude someone from being issued a visa based on our act then we would not have issued the visa.
asserted
we → have → visa
During the OnePath interview, Sneako was asked about previous antisemitic comments he had made.
asserted
he → ask → comments
"According to Zionists, they'll say anyone who is critical of Israeli is antisemite," he said.
uncertain
he → accord → Israeli
The statement from OPN Media also stressed that a disclaimer posted on its YouTube channel, and read out by the presenter prior to the interview, stated that it does not invite guests onto its platform because it agrees with everything they have "ever said or done".
asserted
they → stress → everything
…and 4 more, not listed.