Multiple Charges Across Australia Over Neo-Nazi and Extremist Materials

AFP Assistant Commissioner said the agency would use a range of measures to address threats to Australia’s social cohesion.

A supplied image shows a group of about 40 men seen wearing black balaclavas and brandishing Australian flags at Artarmon train station in Sydney, on Jan. 26, 2024. AAP Image/Supplied by Transport for NSW

Several people are facing charges of importing or possessing neo-Nazi material and symbols after a wave of arrests made by the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

In the most serious case, importing 160 publications containing “disturbing” and violent anti-Semitic material and distributing banned videos related to the 2019 Christchurch mosque mass shooting in New Zealand means a 21-year-old Australian man will remain behind bars awaiting trial.

Zachary Jarrod Hulse, a Brisbane air-conditioning technician, was arrested as part of an AFP operation targeting alleged neo-Nazis in Queensland and New South Wales (NSW), and has remained in custody for 11 days.

He was charged with two counts of possessing violent extremist material after the police searched his family’s home on Dec. 3, and applied for bail in Queensland Supreme Court last week.

Justice Tom Sullivan handed down his decision on Dec. 16, calling the material “repellent” but noting that “it is not at the absolute upper mark of offending, but it is nonetheless disturbing.”

Among the material were details of Nazi movements and leaders, and Holocaust denial. Another publication was a collection of essays encouraging the undertaking of lone wolf terrorist attacks.

Police also allegedly found an electronic file on Hulse’s phone covering theory and instructions on committing terrorist attacks.

“The second part was titled ‘A Practical Guide’ and includes instructions titled such as assassinations, terror bombing, and sabotage,” Sullivan said.

“Clearly, this material refers to anti-Semitic sites, anti-Islam sites, and sites associated with white supremacy.”

Nazi Flags and Balaclavas

Hulse was also accused of using the chat application Telegram to share videos related to the Christchurch shooting, as well as importing two Nazi flags and three black balaclavas, two of which had skulls printed on their lower jaw.

He had been on authorities’ radar for months beforehand, the court heard.

“In February 2025, police commenced an investigation in relation to the importation into Australia by [Hulse] of material that called for deliberate acts of violence against minorities in order to carry out a race war,” Sullivan said.

At the court, defence legal counsel argued Hulse should be granted bail as he was a young man who had just turned 21, had no criminal record, and was willing to follow strict bail conditions.

However, prosecutors opposed bail, saying there was no evidence of exceptional circumstances or conditions to mitigate the risk of further offending if Hulse were released.

While the air-conditioning technician had been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and Asperger’s syndrome, Sullivan said there was no evidence as to the extent to which these conditions affected his life.

The judge also rejected a defence submission that Hulse would likely not face a custodial sentence if convicted, and eventually turned down the man’s bail application.

Another Offender Arrested in Western Australia

Meanwhile, another 21-year-old man was charged with possessing violent extremist material and four counts of breaching bail in Western Australia on Dec. 5.

A day earlier, the Western Australia Joint Counter Terrorism Team—comprising the AFP, the Western Australia Police Force (WAPF) and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)—conducted a search at a property in Westminster.

They seized two computers and a mobile phone, which allegedly contained data constituting violent extremist material, according to authorities.

The man was also accused of using one of the devices to send messages on a messaging platform seeking assistance on sensitive topics, including explosive devices, military and tactical training, weapons manufacturing, combat techniques and forged documents.

Police also uncovered text messages and phone calls with a woman known to the man. He was charged in October and was on bail for allegedly assaulting and threatening to kill her.

AFP Commander Nick Read said violent extremist material accessed by young people could pose serious risks to the community.

“Extremist groups target vulnerable and young individuals online for radicalisation as they are more susceptible to being influenced,” he said.

“Our priority is to keep Australians safe from those who seek to harm or radicalise them. We urge parents, carers, family, and friends to speak out if they see any signs of radicalisation in people they are close to.”

WAPF Detective Superintendent Ricky Chadwick warned that harmful online activity could be tracked.

“Accessing and engaging in online platforms that promote violence and extremist content has consequences, which can lead to criminal prosecution,” he said.

“Individuals who engage in illegal online behaviour make deliberate choices that carry serious consequences.

“Law enforcement continues to monitor online environments where harmful content is shared.”

National Crackdown on Prohibited Material

Earlier this month, the AFP’s National Security Investigations (NSI) teams across the country carried out a week-long operation targeting the distribution and display of prohibited symbols.

They made several arrests, including a 25-year-old man from Sydney’s north-west and a 43-year-old UK citizen living in Queensland.

The British man allegedly used two different handles on X to display the Nazi symbol. He was also accused of supporting a pro-Nazi ideology that incites hatred and violence against the Jewish community.

During a search of his home, police seized a mobile phone and several weapons, including swords with Nazi symbology, axes, and knives.

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old was issued with a court attendance notice after police charged him with performing a Nazi salute at a recent public gathering in Sydney.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said the agency would use a range of measures—including charges, education, disruption and deterrence—to address threats to Australia’s social cohesion.

“The AFP will not tolerate any forms of intimidation, threats or calls for violence against vulnerable communities,” he said.

“We want to ensure these symbols are not being used to fracture social cohesion. If we identify instances where this is happening, we will act swiftly to disrupt the behaviour, prosecute those involved and protect the dignity, safety and cohesion of our diverse community.”