A man wearing a swastika T-shirt has been questioned by police outside the Bondi Royal Commission, where children were giving evidence about schoolyard antisemitism. The man, who identified himself as Ian Minus of Killarney Heights, claimed he was an anti-Israel war protester and said he wears the T-shirt regularly around Sydney. He insisted he had no idea the Royal Commission was taking place in the building where he was loitering.
Man's claims and police response
“I’m sitting in the street, in a public street,” he told 7NEWS. When asked if his presence was a coincidence, he said: “I have business in town, and I wear this all the time.” His social media profile shows a repeated history of anti-war protests. He claimed it was his right to protest against what Israel is doing in Gaza.
Police quickly moved in to question the man and take his details. In NSW, it is illegal to display swastikas in public. Officers said they would take the information back to their lawyers to determine whether charges will be laid. Police later said he had been issued with a move-on order, which was complied with.
“Inquiries are ongoing in respect of the alleged offensive conduct,” a statement said.
Children's testimony at the inquiry
The incident occurred on day three of the Royal Commission, which focused on children and the impact of antisemitism in Australia. The hearing heard compelling and harrowing testimony from youngsters, including a 13-year-old girl who was at Bondi at the time of the massacre last December. She told the commission she now can’t go on school camps or excursions and is terrified of the sound of helicopters, sirens, fireworks and even balloons popping.
In an unusual situation, a family came into the witness box together — a mother and her two daughters. One daughter, who is in Year 10, said she is consistently taunted at her Sydney school about being Jewish, with kids throwing coins at her feet to see if she will pick them up. The mother broke down in tears listening to her daughter’s testimony. She said she couldn’t believe how much Australia had unravelled since October 7, 2023, when almost 1200 Jewish people were killed in Israel. The family is now considering leaving the country.
