A 31-year-old man has been remanded in custody after allegedly delivering an anti-Semitic speech at an anti-immigration rally in Sydney on Australia Day. Brandan Koschel is accused of breaching newly enacted racial hatred incitement laws during his address to the 'March for Australia' rally at Moore Park.
Police told a virtual bail court on Tuesday that Koschel twice referred to Jewish people as the 'greatest enemy' in a 45-second speech that was live-streamed online. The prosecutor argued that the brazen public incitement made him an unacceptable risk to the community.
Koschel's lawyer, Jasmine Lau, said he was not affiliated with any active neo-Nazi group and downplayed the Celtic cross on his shirt, stating it was not a symbol of the National Socialist Network (NSN). However, police alleged Koschel was seen with NSN affiliates and had been a member of the group.
Magistrate Daniel Covington refused bail, citing the lack of specific non-association conditions and no disavowal of the alleged ideology. Koschel will remain in custody until his next court appearance.
