Victoria's new laws banning the Nazi salute are being put to the test, just one week after coming into effect. Police are investigating a prominent neo-Nazi, after he allegedly performed the gesture on the steps of county court on Friday.
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00:00 Just minutes after being spared more jail time for an attack on six hikers, an unrepentant
00:07 Thomas Soule and Jacob Hersont wanted the last word.
00:11 Hail Hitler.
00:12 Hail Hitler. Oh, I nearly did it. It's illegal now, isn't it?
00:16 Laws banning the Nazi salute in Victoria were fast-tracked by the state's parliament last
00:20 week, meaning anyone who performs the offensive gesture now faces up to 12 months in prison
00:26 or a $23,000 fine.
00:28 The definition's very clear. It's anything that resembles a salute.
00:33 This is about intent and this bloke knew exactly what he was doing.
00:38 Hersont is the first person to be reported to police for allegedly breaching the laws
00:42 since they came into effect following a string of anti-Semitic incidents in Melbourne.
00:47 These unapologetic neo-Nazis are testing the new ban.
00:51 He and Soule pleaded guilty to a 2021 attack when a group of up to 25 far-right extremists
00:57 surrounded hikers and attacked their car in regional Victoria.
01:01 Yesterday a judge found the pair had good prospects for rehabilitation.
01:05 They thumbed their nose at the law and it's unacceptable. There needs to be consequences.
01:11 If this individual does not get charged, it will send the message that the law has no
01:17 value.
01:17 Our government has done its bit. We have banned the Nazi swastika and we have also banned
01:23 the Nazi salute, so this is now a matter for the police.
01:27 Police say they'll be taking a zero tolerance approach to people who breach Victoria's Nazi
01:32 salute laws.
01:33 But some say yesterday's incident raises questions about whether the legislation should go further
01:38 and ban far-right hate speech.
01:40 It's taking away a weapon in their arsenal.
01:43 This movement is dangerous, these are ticking time bombs and we have to make sure that this
01:48 evolving threat is taken seriously.
01:51 The salute is also banned in Tasmania and New South Wales.
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