Australia Day Rally Attendee Remanded in Custody Over Alleged Anti-Semitic Tirade
A participant in an Australia Day rally is set to spend a minimum of one week behind bars after being accused of delivering a brazen anti-Semitic speech that included tributes to neo-Nazi leaders. Brandan Koschel, aged 31, was arrested following his remarks at the anti-immigration 'March for Australia' rally in Sydney on Monday, where he allegedly breached newly enacted racial hatred incitement legislation.
Court Proceedings and Police Allegations
Koschel appeared via a virtual bail court on Tuesday, where he was informed he would remain in custody. Police prosecutors presented a strong case, asserting that Koschel referenced the new laws during his speech and then knowingly violated them immediately afterward. His 45-second address, during which he twice declared Jewish people as the 'greatest enemy,' elicited cheers from segments of the crowd at Moore Park and reached a broader audience through live streaming on platforms like YouTube.
'The brazen and public incitement towards the Jewish community makes him an unacceptable risk to endanger the community,' stated the police prosecutor. Authorities also alleged that Koschel was observed standing with individuals known to be part of or affiliated with the National Socialist Network (NSN), previously the nation's largest neo-Nazi group before its purported recent dissolution. Open-source intelligence suggested Koschel had been a member of this group, the court was told.
Content of the Speech and Symbolism
During his speech, Koschel proclaimed, 'The Jews are the greatest enemy to this nation. They always have been. They are an enemy to Western civilisation, and for thousands of years Christians and Anglos, the white man has known that the Jew is our greatest enemy.' Before exiting the stage, he added, 'Free Joel Davis, heil white Australia, heil Thomas Sewell.' Sewell was a leader of the NSN, while Davis, a Sydney lieutenant, faces charges related to a public call for followers to 'rhetorically rape' federal MP Allegra Spender.
Koschel's lawyer, Jasmine Lau, argued that the NSN had disbanded in recent weeks and that her client was not affiliated with any 'active' group. She downplayed the significance of the large white Celtic cross on his shirt, claiming it was merely a Celtic cross symbol and not associated with the NSN. However, the US Anti-Defamation League's hate symbols database notes that this symbol has been utilised by various white supremacist groups since the 1930s.
Arrest and Community Response
Following the rally, police tracked Koschel to Bourke Street in Surry Hills, where he was arrested. Onlookers booed as he was placed into a police vehicle. Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden alleged that Koschel's language 'was clearly and unequivocally signed with neo-Nazi ideology' and incited a response from the crowd, breaching 'the line of free speech to incite hatred towards another group.'
Bail Hearing and Magistrate's Decision
In seeking bail, Ms Lau contended that Koschel was unlikely to receive a jail term if convicted of publicly inciting hatred on racial grounds causing fear. She highlighted his family ties to Sydney, lack of a firearm licence, and limited criminal history, with no prior hate crime offences. The most concerning incident was a violent crime from 2017, according to reports.
Magistrate Daniel Covington expressed scepticism that Koschel posed minimal risk of further trouble, despite his limited record. He noted that proposed bail conditions lacked specific non-association measures and did not include a disavowal of the alleged ideology. 'It is difficult for me to determine what conditions could be put in place to both protect the community and the risk of committing further serious offences,' Magistrate Covington remarked. 'There is a real risk of imprisonment.'
He emphasised that the alleged comments 'occurred in a situation where the community is very acute to comments of this nature.' Consequently, bail was refused, and Koschel was remanded in custody until February 3, when the case will be heard at Downing Centre Local Court. Koschel remained largely silent during the hearing but shook his head upon the denial of bail and appeared to make a gesture with his handcuffed right hand before the connection was terminated.
Background on Neo-Nazi Group and Legal Context
The NSN announced its disbandment earlier this month in anticipation of new federal laws targeting hate groups. Davis, a key Sydney associate of NSN leader Thomas Sewell, stated during a bail hearing on January 15 that he was no longer a member and 'that chapter is now closed.' He has been held on remand since November over the call regarding Ms Spender, whose electorate in east Sydney includes a significant Jewish population. Davis has argued that the phrase 'rhetorically rape' was a philosophical term, not intended to incite literal sexual assault.
