Australian Man Jailed for Nazi Salute, First Under New Law

Jacob Hersant sentenced to one month in prison for performing banned gesture, but released on bail pending appeal.

Jacob Hersant, a member of the National Socialist Network, became the first person in Victoria, Australia, to be jailed for performing a Nazi salute in public.
The salute was made illegal just days before Hersant performed it outside a Melbourne court in October 2023.
Magistrate Brett Sonnett sentenced Hersant to a month in prison, stating a fine would not deter future offenses.
Hersant's lawyer argued that his actions were protected by freedom of speech and announced plans to appeal the conviction and sentence.
The case highlights Australia's zero-tolerance policy towards symbols of Nazism and acts of racial vilification.