Man charged with performing Nazi salute throws hat in ring for WA council elections

1 week ago 3

A Perth man who is before the courts for allegedly performing a Nazi salute during a livestream and using antisemitic language is vying for a spot on a well-heeled riverside local council.

Samuel William Croll, 20, has nominated as a candidate for the Town of Mosman Park, in Perth’s western suburbs, with the election scheduled for October 18. Nominations closed on Thursday.

Samuel Croll (inset) is running for council in the Town of Mosman Park, an affluent riverside local government in Perth’s western suburbs. He is also before the courts, accused of making a Nazi salute during a livestream.

Croll will be due back in court shortly after that election, accused of making a Nazi gesture that would be visible in a public place, and of conduct intended racially harass. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In candidate details published online, Croll said he was a maritime professional by trade but had become “more prominently known for my free speech advocacy and staunch patriotism”.

“The current system is set up in a way designed to profit off regular Aussies,” he said.

“The government has sadly transitioned from one with us to one working actively against us. I call out the corruption rife in both major political parties as well as the anti-Australian sentiment commonly found in the mainstream media and minor political parties.”

When contacted by this masthead, Croll said he did not believe the current court proceedings would have “any meaningful sway on the election results”.

“I am choosing to have faith in the ability of residents to be able to discern fact from fiction,” he said.

“As I have stated time and time again these charges are lawfare and an attack on political entertainment.”

Croll, who confirmed to this masthead that he attended Sunday’s March for Australia rally in Perth, said the “role of a local government is a simple one – to spend the least while doing the most”.

“My primary intent is to see to it that ratepayers’ money is appropriately managed and not wasted on any frivolous projects,” he said.

Town of Mosman Park Mayor Paul Shaw, who has been re-elected unopposed, told ABC Perth Radio on Friday morning there were “three other very good candidates” to vote for.

“All those people have been serving the community for a number of years, and I would endorse them as excellent candidates to fill those three vacancies,” Shaw said.

“I’d like to us to focus more on people who are going to be building community and making sure that Mosman Park remains a welcoming place for all people.

“I prefer that someone with these beliefs didn’t run for council, but it seems that they are eligible, and there’s nothing that I can do about it.”

The WA Electoral Commission has deemed Croll eligible to run, only ruling out candidates who are convicted of a serious offence, but not those charged.

Asked what would happen if Croll was elected and then convicted, Shaw said he was “very confident that won’t be the situation”.

“I’ve had a quick look at his nomination form and to be perfectly frank, I don’t really want to focus on him and his beliefs too much,” he said.

“I don’t want to give too much of a platform to him, and like I said, we’ve got three excellent candidates, and I’d encourage the community to vote for those excellent candidates.”

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