Overview
- Damien Richardson was convicted of performing a gesture that resembles a Nazi salute during a September 2024 speech at a Melbourne restaurant hosted by the National Workers Alliance.
- Magistrate Justin Foster ruled the act occurred in a public place and did not qualify for artistic or theatrical exemptions under Victoria’s 2023 legislation.
- Holocaust historian Professor Konrad Kwiet described the raised right arm as a Nazi salute, though the magistrate found no loyalty or obedience to Hitler in Richardson’s conduct.
- Richardson argued he was satirically mocking The Age’s coverage of him, and the magistrate accepted the mocking context but found the gesture still satisfied the offence.
- A pre-sentence hearing is set for December 4, with maximum penalties of a $23,000 fine and up to 12 months in jail under the law.