First Australian jailed under Nazi salute law
Nathan Ballesty becomes first person sentenced under mandatory Nazi salute laws introduced in February 2025.
Nathan Ballesty received three years in prison, with a non-parole period of 18 months, after pleading guilty to performing a Nazi salute and six counts of using online services to menace, harass or offend.
Ballesty is the first person sentenced under laws introduced in February 2025 that carry a mandatory 12-month minimum jail term. Ballesty was arrested in December after posting a call for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to be kidnapped.
Police searched his home on Sydney's Northern Beaches and found Nazi paraphernalia, a uniform and a copy of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf. They also found violent messages aimed at the Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on his devices.
The court accepted Ballesty was remorseful and had battled mental health issues, but Judge Mahony said his character testimonials were difficult to reconcile with the nature of his crimes. Ballesty will be eligible for parole in May 2027.
- Three years total, 18 months non-parole
- Sentence length
- February 2025
- Law introduced
- May 2027
- Parole eligibility
- Sydney's Northern Beaches
- Location
Why it mattersThe sentence shows Australia's new hate-speech laws are being enforced with jail time, setting a legal precedent.
AustraliaThis is the first prosecution under Australia's mandatory Nazi salute laws, demonstrating serious enforcement of federal hate-speech legislation.
Corroborated byperthnow.com.au
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