Three individuals associated with neo-Nazi ideologies have been found guilty of offensive conduct during an Anzac Day dawn service held in Melbourne in 2025. As a result, they have been ordered to pay fines for their actions.
The incident occurred at the Shrine of Remembrance, where Indigenous elder Mark Brown was delivering a Welcome to Country address. The group disrupted this solemn event with loud booing.
Magistrate James FitzGerald issued the ruling today, finding Jacob Hersant, Nathan Bull, and Michael Nelson guilty of public offensive behavior. A fourth individual, Ian Lomax, was also convicted.
Both Hersant and Nelson, who have previously been linked to white supremacist activities—including Hersant’s prior conviction for making a Nazi salute—were fined $1,900 each. Bull and Lomax received fines of $1,000 and $800, respectively, but managed to avoid a formal conviction.
Prosecutors reported that the group yelled racist slogans and booed during significant moments of the ceremony, actions that were witnessed by thousands present to commemorate fallen soldiers.
In response to the verdict, Colonel Catherine Carrigan, acting chair of the Shrine of Remembrance, stated that the ruling underscores the community and justice system’s serious stance on any actions that undermine the sanctity of such memorial services.
Magistrate FitzGerald acknowledged that opinions regarding Welcome to Country ceremonies may vary within the community, but he emphasized that booing during an Anzac Day event was unequivocally offensive given the ceremony’s nature. He noted, “The dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance is not a venue for noisy disputes or political expressions.”
FitzGerald further remarked that the behavior exhibited by the accused disrupted a moment of national reflection and would likely provoke anger and resentment among reasonable individuals.
The magistrate ruled that the booing contravened Victoria’s Summary Offences Act, while dismissing two alternative charges linked to the Shrine of Remembrance Act.
Witnesses at the scene reported feelings of upset and disgust during the disruption, with some attendees attempting to counter the booing by cheering and clapping. Following the incident, police escorted Hersant from the area, while Nelson was removed by an ex-serviceman.
Hersant, Bull, and Nelson are recognized figures within the white supremacist movement, while Lomax, a dentist from Ballarat, had previously faced suspension due to his associations with neo-Nazi rallies. During the court proceedings, the trio acknowledged their roles in the disruption but framed it as political dissent against Welcome to Country ceremonies.
Hersant, notable for being the first person in Victoria convicted of a public Nazi salute, has a history of violent offenses, including a conviction related to a group attack on hikers in Victoria’s Cathedral Ranges. He previously held a leadership position in the National Socialist Network, a neo-Nazi group that was disbanded earlier this year and subsequently designated as a prohibited hate organization by the federal government.
