Three Victorian Socialist council candidates facing serious charges related to Land Forces protests

Three Victorian Socialist candidates who ran at the recent council elections are facing serious charges related to the chaotic Land Forces protests, including allegedly performing a Nazi salute.

Three Victorian Socialist candidates who ran at the recent council elections have been hit with serious charges related to the chaotic Land Forces protests.

Another of the party’s contenders is expected to be charged with mistreatment of a police horse during the wild CBD scenes which erupted in September.

One of those charged, Mornington Peninsula teacher Nic Robertson, is accused of performing a Nazi salute at the demonstration opposing a military equipment expo held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Mr Robertson, 63, was an unsuccessful candidate in the Warringine ward in the Mornington Peninsula Shire, only securing 8.2 per cent of the primary vote.

Mornington Peninsula teacher Nic Robertson is accused of performing a Nazi salute at the demonstration.

Far-right extremist Jacob Hersant and Mr Robertson are among only a handful of Victorians charged with making a Nazi salute since new laws were introduced last year banning the gesture.

Hersant was on Friday sentenced to one month behind bars after being found guilty of the offence, but was freed on appeal bail.

Other Victorian Socialists charged over the Land Forces protests include Jasmine Duff and Josh Dwyer.

Ms Duff, 27, contested the Pentridge ward in Merri-bek in Melbourne’s north, collecting 10.5 per cent of the primary vote.

She has been charged with affray.

Jasmine Duff has been charged with affray.

Josh Dwyer, 28, who ran in the Walker ward in Whitehorse in Melbourne’s leafy east, has also been charged with affray and seven counts of hindering or obstructing police.

He secured 6.5 per cent of the primary vote.

While preferences are yet to be distributed, the trio are not expected to be elected.

The Herald Sun has been told another Victorian Socialist is expected to be charged on summons with animal abuse.

That charge is believed to relate to a police horse working at the event.

Josh Dwyer has also been charged with affray and seven counts of hindering or obstructing police.

A Victorian Socialists spokesman said it was a “disgrace” that the state government spent millions to host the conference in Melbourne.

“We are proud that many Victorian Socialists members, including some of our council candidates, attended the protest against the Land Forces conference and made a stand against war,” he said.

The charges have been laid by members of the Bastion taskforce, set up after a troubled day in the vicinity of the Land Forces expo.

A total of 89 people were charged or fined on September 11, the main day of protest activity.

Dozens more have since been identified after police released CCTV images of people of interest.

Police have previously alleged activists threw rocks, a substance smelling like vomit, horse manure, eggs and liquid irritants at officers, police horses and expo attendees.