Victorian Senator Ralph Babet hits back after neo-Nazi’s social post

Victorian Senator Ralph Babet says extremists are “a bunch of losers” after a self-proclaimed neo-Nazi performing the Nazi salute allegedly tricked him into posing for a photo.

Victorian Senator Ralph Babet has labelled all extremists, right wing and left wing, as “idiots” and said “they can all go get stuffed” after a self-proclaimed neo-Nazi allegedly tricked him into posing in a photo while the man is doing the Nazi Salute.

Nathan Bull, who describes himself as a “highly active NSN (National Socialist Network) member” posted a photo to his social media X site on Saturday standing next to Mr Babet while giving a partial salute below shoulder height.

The photo was captioned “Heil Ralph Babet, Heil our people”.

Mr Babet from the United Australia Party (UAP) was standing next to Mr Babet giving the thumbs up apparently oblivious to the gesture.

Heil Ralph Babet, Heil our people o/ pic.twitter.com/LY01XWsp8E

— Nathan Bull (@Nathan_Bull88) February 17, 2024

On Sunday the senator told the Herald Sun that he had no knowledge of the photo or the man.

“The far left and the far right are all a bunch of losers” he said.

“I don’t know who he is. I don’t care who he is.”

The Nazi salute was officially banned in Victoria in October last year after the Victorian government fast-tracked a new law.

Individuals who display or perform the symbol or gesture in public with face penalties of as much as $23,000 or jail terms as long as 12 months.

Senator Ralph Babet has described extremists as a ‘bunch of losers’. Picture: Martin Ollman

When Mr Babet was asked whether he would like the matter to be probed by authorities, he said: “that’s a matter for Victoria Police, if they want to investigate they can”.

Mr Bull could not be contacted by the Herald Sun on Sunday night.

It was revealed in June last year that Mr Bull was already being investigated for performing the Nazi salute in public.

He and Michael “Mickle” Nelson, both known members of the National Socialist Network, were seen and photographed smiling and laughing while performing the salute surrounded by at least four police officers outside the State Library of Victoria during a protest.

His post remains online and is accompanied by dozens of comments that are making derogatory race remarks about Mr Babet who is from an Indian Ocean island of Rodrigues, a territory of Mauritius.