Police investigate Melbourne posters depicting accused Bondi gunman
Melbourne City Council and Victoria Police are investigating the appearance of unauthorised posters around the city depicting the accused Bondi Beach gunman, Naveed Akram.
The posters are designed to mimic the well-known “Aussie” poster series by Adelaide artist Peter Drew and have drawn condemnation from civic leaders, community groups and the artist himself.
Around 40 unauthorised prints were spotted on walls and structures in the central business district and inner suburbs in the last few days, with reports citing locations including Princes Bridge and a bridge in Richmond.
“Aussie” poster in Melbourne (photo via X.com)
Council workers moved quickly to remove the material under a policy requiring racist or hateful content to be taken down within an hour of being reported. CCTV footage is being reviewed as part of the inquiry.
The posters feature a photograph of Akram with the word “Aussie” beneath his face, a direct visual reference to Drew’s street art series first created in 2016 to reflect Australia’s multicultural identity.
Speaking to media, Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece described the posters as “just sick” and “absolutely abhorrent”, saying there was no context in which the images could be considered art and noting that families affected by the Bondi attack were still grieving.
Drew has also condemned the subversion of his work, saying the originals were intended to celebrate diversity and belonging. He noted that similar appropriations of his posters have occurred in the past and criticised the use of the style to promote hateful or divisive messages.
Victoria Police have confirmed they are investigating the matter under billposting and related laws and have urged anyone with information to come forward.
The posters appeared amid ongoing fallout from the December Bondi Beach shooting, in which 15 people were killed during a Chanukah event and Akram was charged with multiple offences, including murder and terrorism. The attack and its aftermath have heightened national scrutiny of hate speech, misinformation and community tensions.
