Neo-Nazi hecklers found guilty over Anzac Day booing

Jacob Hersant arrives at court in Melbourne fronting charges over a disturbance on Anzac Day last year. (AAP: Joel Carrett)

Three neo-Nazis who booed during a Melbourne Anzac Day dawn service in 2025 have been found guilty of offensive behaviour and ordered to pay fines.

Two men were convicted and fined $1,900 over the incident, and another two men were fined but avoided conviction.

Neo-Nazis who loudly booed during an Anzac Day dawn service in Melbourne have been found guilty of offensive behaviour and ordered to pay fines.

Magistrate James FitzGerald today found Jacob Hersant, Nathan Bull, Michael Nelson guilty of behaving in an offensive manner in public.

Michael Nelson outside the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Thursday. (AAP: Joel Carrett)

Hersant, a white supremacist once jailed for performing a public Nazi salute, was convicted and fined $1,900.

Bull and Lomax were fined $1,000 and $800 respectively, and avoided conviction.

After the hearing, three of the four accused became involved in a heated argument with a protester outside the court and were separated by Protective Service Officers.

Prosecutors alleged that booing and racist slogans were yelled during parts of the service.

The loud heckling was heard by thousands who had gathered at the shrine to honour fallen soldiers.

Magistrate FitzGerald said he accepted there were differing views in the community about Welcome to Country ceremonies.

Four men were charged after allegedly booing and yelling racist slogans at an Anzac Day service in Melbourne last year. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)

But he said it was beyond reasonable doubt that booing at an Anzac Day ceremony was offensive behaviour, given the event’s "hushed" and "reverential" nature.

"The dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance is not a time and place for noisy argument, heated debate, or the indignant expression of political views," Magistrate FitzGerald said.

"The behaviour engaged in in this case ruined this moment of national commemoration for those attending.

"It was transgressive behaviour that would be likely to arouse significant anger, significant resentment, outrage, disgust, or hatred in the mind of a reasonable person."

Nathan Bull represented himself at a court hearing last month. (ABC News: Guido Salazar)

The magistrate found the booing breached Victoria's Summary Offences Act.

He dismissed two alternative charges brought by prosecutors under the Shrine of Remembrance Act.

Responding to the verdict, Shrine of Remembrance acting chair Colonel Catherine Carrigan said it reflected "the seriousness with w