Man in Nazi shirt said he’s ‘better than Bondi fellow’
A T-shirt with a swastika and claiming personal pride in antisemitism is better than committing the Bondi terrorist attack, a man allegedly told police.
A man who turned up outside the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion wearing a T-shirt with Nazi imagery allegedly justified it as better than the Bondi terrorist attack.
Ian Minus, 68, pleaded guilty in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday to knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol without a reasonable excuse when he wore a shirt with a swastika to where Jewish witnesses were giving evidence in the Royal Commission.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment or an $11,000 fine.
The police facts tendered in the case say Minus was “wearing a T-shirt that incorporated a Star of David surrounded by a swastika … and the words: ‘Anti-Semitism. Proud to be accused. SPEAK UP!”
After a member of the public reported Minus’ attire on May 6, officers told him he was displaying a prohibited symbol, according to the facts.
When asked why he was wearing the shirt, Minus allegedly told police he was “terribly upset” about the genocide in Gaza and the restrictions on protesters.
“He then went on to claim that the T-shirt was ‘better than the fellow in Bondi’,” police allege.
“This is just part of the scheme to quieten us all down while the genocide happens overseas. This is all part of the censorship,” Minus allegedly told police.
Police directed Minus to move on as his conduct was causing fear and alarm, which he complied with.
A few hours later, Minus was arrested at Manly Police Station still wearing the T-shirt that had drawn the ire of officers and the public, the facts say.
During a recorded interview, Minus allegedly told police: “I wear these T-shirts all the time.”
He admitted designing and purchasing two shirts from VistaPrint, a printing and e-commerce company.
Two other charges, of behaving in an offensive manner in a public place and causing a prohibited Nazi symbol to be displayed, were withdrawn.
He will be sentenced on July 23.
Minus pleaded guilty on the same day, and in the same court as neo-Nazi Joel Davis appeared on charges including publicly inciting hatred on the basis of race when he attended a rally at state parliament.
Jewish students gave evidence at the Royal Commission of being bullied while learning about the Holocaust on the day Minus was asked to leave.
A Jewish year 10 student, speaking under a pseudonym, told the inquiry she had coins thrown at her, was called an Israeli spy and had a swastika scratched next to her name.
Other students performed Nazi salutes towards her behind the teacher’s back while studying the Holocaust book, The Boy in Striped Pyjamas, the girl said.
