ANU student fined $5000, Nazi-salute case sent to Supreme Court
Zachery James Hook, 19, was fined $5000 for offensive behaviour. His Nazi salute charge moves to the Supreme Court for sentencing.
Zachery James Hook faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday. Zachery James Hook placed white supremacist stickers at the Australian National University's Indigenous centres and performed Nazi salutes in public.
Zachery James Hook pleaded guilty to offensive behaviour and performing a Nazi salute in a public place. Magistrate James Lawton fined him $5000 with one year to pay for the stickers.
The Nazi salute charge has been sent to the ACT Supreme Court. The magistrate's court cannot impose the punishment the offence deserves.
The highest punishment available was one year's jail, but the magistrate found that not enough. Lawton said Hook acted offensively and placed the stickers in a targeted way meant to harm.
The court heard Hook showed little sign of changing his views since arrest.
- Zachery James Hook, 19
- Defendant
- $5000
- Fine amount
- Friday, October 30
- Court date
Why it mattersThe case shows Australian courts will pursue serious charges for public hate speech and Nazi symbols with the full weight available under law.
AustraliaACT courts are taking a strong stance on public displays of Nazi salutes and white supremacist material on university campuses, setting precedent for how such offences are treated.
