TV star Damien Richardson avoids jail over Nazi salute but must visit Holocaust museum

| Night News Editor Published October 22, 2026 2:41pm Updated October 22, 2026 2:41pm To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Disgraced former soap actor Damien Richardson has been ordered to visit a Holocaust museum after he claimed a Nazi salute was a ‘satirical gesture’. The ex-Neighbours star was caught on camera making the gesture on stage at a National Workers’ Alliance (NWA) event in 2024 -a year after it was made illegal in Victoria, Australia. The group, which the actor set up, seeks to stop immigration and preserve Western culture and has links to alleged far-right, white supremacist, and neo-Nazi identities. The salute was streamed on Facebook where he told a crowd: ‘There is a war on men.’ ‘I thought it was a war on Western tradition, Western values… and actually, it’s an anti-white-male-agenda.’ He then made the gesture before adding: ‘Am I gonna be fined now? I’m gonna go to jail for five years? Richardson did the salute?’ ‘I mean, really? I mean, this is absurd. This is insane. ‘It’s crazy. It’s so crazy you can’t believe it’s even happening.’ He denied to ABC Australia that he associates with a Neo-Nazi movement (Picture: 7.30 Report) Damien Richardson seen speaking during the No Digital ID rally organised by Australian right One Nation Party (Picture: SOPA Images/Shutterstock) The 57-year-old was flanked by supporters as he arrived at court. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘I have been convicted of making a gesture, which is political satire, and this is the state of Victoria in 2026,’ he said. Inside, Judge Kate Hawkins told him ‘whether or not you hold any sympathy with Nazi ideology is irrelevant.’ ‘It’s important to send a clear message to the community that the performance of the gesture is offensive, harmful and against the law,’ she said. He avoided jail but was ordered to carry out a year-long community corrections stint and 100 hours of unpaid community work. He has also ordered to visit the Melbourne Holocaust Museum in Elsternwick. ‘It’s a satirical comment, so that’s really all I’ve got to say,’ Richardson said as he left court. He left Neighbours in 2020 (Picture: Fremantle Australia) Richardson played Gary Canning on the Australian soap for six years between 2014 and 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic he quit acting to launch a campaign against vaccinations, and was part of a protest in Melbourne against them in 2021. He later made a failed bid to be an independent candidate on the Australian Senate. Arrow MORE: Bouncer fuming after attacker gets ‘slap on wrist’ while his life is in tatters Arrow MORE: Hunt for thief after suitcase containing £30,000 of valuables snatched from luggage rack Arrow MORE: We join police raid on Brixton shop as Met turns tide on London’s phone thieves Breaking News Never miss the biggest stories with breaking news alerts in your inbox.