A man has been arrested and charged following a public disturbance on a popular beach north of Sydney, where he allegedly displayed a tattoo featuring a Nazi symbol.
Incident on Christmas Eve at Bar Beach
The situation unfolded on Christmas Eve at Bar Beach in Newcastle. Concerned members of the public alerted police after spotting a man with what was alleged to be a prominent Nazi symbol tattooed on his leg.
One beachgoer who witnessed the incident spoke to the ABC, describing the tattoo as "intimidating". "It would be disgusting at any time, but a week and a half after a terrorist attack against Jewish people. Absolutely disgusting, I thought," the man said. The symbol was believed to be the SS Schutzstaffel insignia, used by the elite guard of the Nazi regime.
Police Investigation and Arrest
Following an investigation, officers arrested a 36-year-old man at a home in Urunga, south of Coffs Harbour, at about 6.30pm on Saturday. He was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station for processing.
The man was formally charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public. This charge relates to laws introduced across Australia in 2022 that specifically prohibit the public display of such hate symbols.
Court Appearance and Legal Context
The accused was granted strict conditional bail and is scheduled to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
This case marks one of the early applications of New South Wales' tough new legislation against hate symbols. The laws were enacted to combat the public promotion of ideologies associated with terror and racial hatred.
The police response underscores a low tolerance for actions that threaten community harmony and target specific cultural or religious groups. Authorities continue to encourage the public to report similar incidents.
