Michigan Addision Bullock, 25, was remanded in custody in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
A man from Canberra has been charged after police allegedly found a photo of him performing a Nazi salute outside a synagogue in Queensland.
Michigan Addision Bullock, a 25-year-old from Gungahlin, has been handed one count of performing a Nazi salute in public.
While the alleged offence occurred in Queensland, it is believed to be the first time the charge has been laid in the ACT.
It is alleged Bullock performed a Nazi salute outside the Gold Coast Hebrew Congregation at Surfers Paradise, in view of the public on 18 October 2024.
Officers with ACT Policing executed a search warrant at his home over unrelated matters earlier this year and seized his mobile phone.
When examining his phone, police allegedly found a single photo on it showing him performing the salute.
Bullock faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday (15 May), where he was formally charged.
“Ah, not guilty,” he said when asked how he would plead.
His lawyer, David Bloomfield from Legal Aid, said the challenge to the charge would be around the circumstances relating to the photo.
Mr Bloomfield expected he would call his client as a witness at the upcoming hearing.
Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker adjourned the matter for a hearing on 12 September and remanded Bullock, who did not apply for bail, in custody.
Bullock was charged by Special Operation Avalite, which is the Australian Federal Police’s (AFP) anti-Semitism taskforce.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said anti-Semitic gestures, symbols and behaviour had no place in Australian society.
“I would like to commend the collaborative work of ACT Policing and members of Special Operation Avalite on their investigation of this alleged act of anti-Semitism,” he said.
An AFP spokesperson said at the time of the alleged offence, the charge of performing a Nazi salute in public carried a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment and/or a fine of $19,800.
You only ever see him come election time. Maybe he does most of his work at night when the majority… View