Arabic version: تغريم رجل من كانبيرا بسبب ملصقات تفوّق العرق الأبيض

According to ABC News, Canberra man Zachary James Hook has been fined $5,000 after pleading guilty to offensive behaviour on Commonwealth premises for placing white supremacist stickers at the Australian National University.

Hook placed stickers promoting the National Socialist Network and carrying white supremacist slogans around ANU’s Tjabal Indigenous Higher Education Centre on two occasions in August and September 2025. Court documents said the stickers appeared on a multiculturalism poster and on a cabinet and door inside the university’s Black, Indigenous and People of Colour department building.

Magistrate James Lawton described the conduct as serious, targeted and clearly offensive. He said social media had “no doubt had an impact” on Hook’s behaviour and said it was “somewhat troubling” that Hook had not necessarily shown a change in his views, despite acknowledging the impact of his actions.

The fine took account of Hook’s guilty plea, clean criminal record and letter of apology. The offence carries a maximum penalty of $6,600.

Hook has also admitted twice performing a Nazi salute in public under a Commonwealth offence introduced in 2024. The ACT Magistrates Court could not sentence him because the charge has a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment and the court lacked jurisdiction to impose an adequate penalty. His case will be heard by the ACT Supreme Court next month, where the maximum penalty is five years’ imprisonment. Hook will remain on bail until then.