Neighbours star under investigation after alleged Nazi salute
Former Neighbours star Damien Richardson is under investigation by police after allegedly performing a Nazi salute at an event in September.
Richardson, who played Gary Canning in seven seasons of Neighbours, was recorded performing the gesture during a speech at an event run by the National Workers Alliance (NWA), who bills itself as a nationalist organisation dedicated to the "preservation of Western Culture and Identity".
In an excerpt of his speech, which was aired as part of an ABC 7.30 investigation into the rise of the far-right movement in Australia, the actor is heard stating, "There is a war on men".
"I thought it was a war on Western tradition, Western values… and actually it's an anti-white-male-agenda," the actor said at the event.
He is then seen appearing to perform a Nazi salute and mockingly asking if he would be locked up for it, saying, “Am I allowed to do that? Am I allowed to do that, or am I going to be fined now? Am I going to go to jail for five years?”
“Oh, Richardson did the salute. I mean, really. I mean this is absurd. This is insane. It’s crazy. It’s so crazy you can’t believe it’s even happening.”
In October 2023, laws came into effect making it an offence to perform a Nazi salute in public or in public view.
A person who commits an offence could face fines of $23,000, 12 months in prison, or both.
Victoria Police has confirmed it is investigating the incident, saying in a statement, “Police are investigating vision which shows a person performing a Nazi salute, believed to be in Victoria."
“The circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be established and an investigation is ongoing.”
While Richardson's actions were applauded by neo-Nazi organisation National Socialist Network (NSN), both Richardson and the organiser of the NWA said they are not neo-Nazis.
"There has been a lot of misinformation spoken about the event, Damien, the National Workers Alliance and myself," Matt Trihey told the ABC.
"Neither Damien or I have ever been members of Nazi organisations and we have no connection with the NSN. I am a free speech advocate and have no control over who purchases online tickets to my events."
Image credits: ABC