Man fined $1,500 for wearing Nazi symbol T-shirt outside Sydney antisemitism royal commission

A man who wore a T-shirt with a banned Nazi symbol outside the antisemitism royal commission in Sydney has been convicted and fined $1,500.

Ian Minus, 68, was moved on by police in May after officers saw him wearing the T-shirt, which was printed with a swastika and the slogan, "Antisemitism. Proud to be accused. Speak up!" on May 6.

The court heard Minus deliberately chose to wear the T-shirt, but accepted his decision to stand outside the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion hearing on his way to a cafe was impulsive.

Victims of the Bondi terror attack were giving evidence inside the building, it heard.

The retired businessman avoided the maximum penalty of 12 months in jail, with Local Court Chief Judge Michael Allen finding Minus appeared genuinely remorseful.

"I cannot be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that his conduct was motivated by any hatred against any religion … or antisemitism," Judge Allen said.

"Rather he was frustrated with the horrific events as he perceives them … from the Middle East."

Judge Allen said the decision to wear the T-shirt in the vicinity of the hearings was "insensitive and in many ways reprehensible".

"Those people giving evidence at the royal commission … are no more to blame for the atrocities that we've seen on our screens … on both sides of the conflict … than anyone in this courtroom," he said.

But he decided the act was an impulsive and unsophisticated protest rather than a display of genuine antisemitism.

'Trashed' his life

Minus's barrister, Philip Strickland SC, told the court his client had written a letter of apology, and had since realised the harm the Nazi symbol causes the Jewish community.

He said the former businessman had been estranged from his daughter-in-law over the incident, and that he felt he had "trashed" his life.

"He recognises in the last few years since his retirement, his cognitive function has worsened," Mr Strickland said.

Mr Strickland also argued his client had no history of antisemitic statements or acts, but that various members of the community and politicians had raised concerns about the royal commission.

"Criticism of the royal commission, even if it's entirely misplaced, does not mean the offender was motivated by antisemitic views," he said.

On the day of his arrest, Minus told media outside the building he did not know there was a royal commission underway, and that he was just "enjoying a cup of coffee in the streets of Sydney".

"When social media is censored … this is the only form of protest I can do," he said.

"I wear this all the time.

"I am proud of this statement," he said, pointing to his T-shirt.

Later that day, he attended Manly Police Station where he was arrested by officers.

He was later charged with behaving in an offensive manner in/near public place/school, and causing a prohibited Nazi symbol to be displayed in a public place.

Two of those charges were later dropped, and Minus pleaded guilty in June to knowingly displaying by public act a Nazi symbol without reasonable excuse.

Judge Allen said Minus had no criminal history, and had been subjected to significant media attention, but said the offence deserved the condemnation which could only come from a recorded conviction.