New South Wales (NSW) Police have charged a 40-year-old man for publicly performing a Nazi salute on Feb. 2 in Sydney’s north.
Following an investigation, officers arrested the man in Chatswood on March 4.
He was taken to a police station and charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public without excuse and making a Nazi salute in a public place.
The man was issued a court attendance notice and is set to appear at Hornsby Local Court on April 16.
The incident reportedly involved the man making racist comments and gestures at members of the public in Northbridge.
NSW Toughens Hate Crime Laws
The incident comes amid a crackdown on hate symbols and racist behaviour in NSW.
The state government recently introduced laws making it a criminal offence to display Nazi symbols or perform Nazi salutes in public, with offenders facing up to one year in prison.
The new laws also impose harsher penalties, including a minimum of three years for financing terrorism and six years for committing or planning terrorist acts.
Police have been granted new powers to remove individuals who intentionally block access or harass worshippers at places of worship. Those convicted of such actions now face up to two years in jail.
The legislative changes follow a sharp rise in anti-Semitic incidents, including synagogue vandalism and violent confrontations.
Rising Number of Nazi Salute Incidents
The Sydney arrest follows a series of similar cases across the country.Just last week, seven men aged 19 to 25 were charged in Geelong, Victoria, for allegedly performing a Nazi salute at a public venue on Feb. 8. Police laid charges on Feb. 26 after an image of the group making the banned gesture circulated online.
Other incidents include a 54-year-old man who appeared in a Sydney court in January for allegedly performing a Nazi salute in Balmain.
In November 2024, a 20-year-old man was arrested for making the gesture at a public event in Newtown.
In October, three construction workers were fined between $500 and $1,500 after performing Nazi salutes outside the Sydney Jewish Museum, later claiming it was a joke.
The Minns government has been under increasing pressure to restore community cohesion following a surge in antisemitic vandalism and arson incidents.
In January, police discovered a caravan filled with explosives during an escalation of hate-related crimes.
