Former television actor Damien Richardson has lost his appeal against a conviction for making a banned Nazi gesture at a far-right political event.
Richardson found fame through Australian television programs including Neighbours and City Homicide, but in recent years has retired from acting and moved into politics. He stood as a candidate for the Victorian Freedom Party at both the 2022 federal election and the 2022 Victorian state election.
In 2024, while speaking at a political event organised by the National Workers Alliance, which was attended by some neo-Nazis, Richardson spoke against what he described as a “war on men”, “wokeism” and a “transexual agenda”.
Richardson then complained about an article in The Age that had compared him to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler before raising his arm in a manner found by the court to resemble a Nazi salute.
“Yep, that guy. Are you allowed to do that? Am I allowed to do that? … Am I gonna be fined? Am I gonna go to jail for five years? Oh, Richardson did the salute,” he said.
Late last year, Richardson was found guilty of performing a banned gesture that resembles a Nazi salute. He appealed the conviction, with his lawyers arguing the gesture was made for educational or artistic purposes.
In a judgment published by the court, Judge Kate Hawkins rejected the appeal.
“You were a political speaker at a political event addressing issues politically important to you,” Judge Hawkins said.
“Whether it was done satirically, humorously or to otherwise engage the audience is immaterial.”
Richardson will return to court for sentencing in September.
