John Tuson Bennett

John Tuson Bennett (12 November 1937 – 22 July 2013) was a solicitor in Victoria, Australia. He was one of Australia's longest and most active Holocaust deniers, active in the Holocaust denial movement from the late 1970s. He formed the Australian Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in 1980.

Early life and education Bennett was born on 12 November 1937 in Horsham, Victoria. (The Herald Sun death notice says that he died aged 76, so this DOB may not be correct.)

Career Bennett worked from 1974 to 1996 for the Legal Aid Commission of Victoria.

He and Beatrice Faust established the Victorian Council for Civil Liberties (VCCL, now known as Liberty Victoria) in 1966,

Australian Civil Liberties Union

Around this time disagreements arose between conservative and radical members of the VCCL, and in May 1980 a new committee was elected without Bennett. Conflict ensued, with Bennett refusing to hand over control of the finances or membership list, and the matter went to court. While Bennett claimed to represent the VCCL, but in the same year formed a new body, the Australian Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), its name based on the American Civil Liberties Union, Geoff Muirden was secretary of the ACLU in 2004.

Publications and other roles He was for many years the author of an annually published handbook or journal called Your Rights, This was published over a number of years and editions, first by Bennett, then by VCCL, The 1984 edition included a section which denied the Holocaust. and was on the board of The Journal of Historical Review.

In 1999 he organised support for Holocaust denier Fredrick Töben, after he had been jailed in Mannheim.

Death and legacy Bennett died on 22 July 2013, aged 76.