A Canberra man has been charged with performing a Nazi salute in front of a Queensland synagogue, an act now classified as a criminal offense under recent laws against hate symbols. Michigan Addison Bullock, 25, allegedly displayed the banned gesture outside the Gold Coast Hebrew Congregation on October 18, 2024, in full view of the public.
Prosecutors revealed in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday that police discovered a photograph of the incident on Mr. Bullock’s mobile phone during a raid of his Gungahlin residence in March. The raid was conducted over unrelated charges, but the image led to the new charge against him.
The charge was laid by officers from AFP Special Operation Avalite, a specialized police unit tasked with investigating the unlawful display of prohibited symbols and gestures.
Appearing via audio-visual link, Mr. Bullock pleaded not guilty to the Commonwealth offense. The federal government had outlawed the Nazi salute and displays of Nazi symbols in January 2024, with laws further strengthened in February 2024 following a series of anti-Semitic attacks.
Since the laws were enacted after the alleged incident, the maximum penalty Mr. Bullock faces is 12 months in prison or a fine of $19,800. Had the offense occurred after the law change, the mandatory minimum sentence would be at least one year’s imprisonment.
In a statement, AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt emphasized ongoing efforts to combat anti-Semitism, highlighting the partnership between police and the community to address hate crimes and promote safety.
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