A man has been charged under recently introduced laws banning the display of Nazi symbols over a shopfront poster depicting Coalition politicians and Australian billionaires as German World War II soldiers.
The display, a series of posters depicting then-opposition leader Peter Dutton, former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack, and miners Gina Rinehart and Clive Palmer dressed as Nazis, appeared in a Wagga Wagga shop window during the March federal Election campaign.
On March 31, police were alerted to the business storefront display on the city’s main street.
At the time, police told the ABC that it had sought legal advice, and it was determined the display did not break the Australian Criminal Code.
On Tuesday July 8 “following further inquiries”, police charged the 69-year-old with knowingly displaying Nazi symbols without an excuse.
NSW hate crime laws were passed in February this year in response to an increase in hate speech and a string of anti-Semitic incidents in the state.
The shop owner was served a court attendance notice to appear on August 20.