A Perth woman has been accused of performing a Nazi salute while on a night out in Northbridge.
Theresa Plunkett-Hill appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday, charged under new laws instituted by the WA government last year.
Theresa Plunkett-Hill outside court.Credit: 9 News Perth
Plunkett-Hill was out in Northbridge on Wednesday evening when police say she was seen making the salute.
She has not entered a plea.
Outside court, the 42-year-old said it was a “good effort” by her to have stayed out so late.
When asked whether she was racist, Plunkett-Hill replied: “What does racist mean?”
“We need to answer the first question about racism,” she told 9News Perth.
“So when you pose a question, you have to be clear about the question that you’re asking and what you mean by that particular term in the context that we’re in.”
She said there was more important news that needed to be covered rather than the allegation against her, including a new housing development in South Hedland and the fact “Western Australia makes up 40 per cent of the country’s economy”.
Plunkett-Hill was charged under new laws brought in by the state government last year in response to a rise in anti-semitic hate.
The display, graffiti and performance of the Nazi salute offences result in fines of up to $24,000 and imprisonment for two years if convicted summarily, and imprisonment for five years if convicted on indictment.
The laws came into effect earlier this year, and a number of people have already been charged with breaching them.
She is back before the court on July 24.
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