Former actor Damien Richardson sentenced for Nazi salute at 2024 event
Damien Richardson, 57, a former Neighbours actor, was sentenced to community work. He agreed to visit the Holocaust Museum.
Damien Richardson appeared on Australian soap operas Neighbours and City Homicide. He performed a Nazi salute while speaking at a nationalist event in September 2024.
Richardson was convicted of performing a banned gesture. He was initially placed on a 12-month undertaking to be of good behaviour.
Richardson appealed his conviction. A judge again found him guilty at a two-day hearing earlier this year.
On Thursday, Judge Kate Hawkins sentenced him to a 12-month community corrections order. He must complete 100 hours of unpaid community work.
Richardson agreed to visit the Melbourne Holocaust Museum. The judge said the sentence sends a clear message.
Nazi salutes are offensive, harmful and against Australian law.
- 57 years old
- Richardson's age
- September 14, 2024
- Event date
- 100 hours
- Unpaid work hours
- About 90 people
- Crowd size
Why it mattersThe ruling shows that banned gestures have real legal consequences. They are not protected speech.
AustraliaAustralian law prohibits performing Nazi salutes and similar gestures; this sentence applies the law equally to public figures.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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