Police will return a series of "satirical" posters to a Canberra bar after finding they did not violate the federal government's new hate laws.
Police will return a series of "satirical" posters to a Canberra bar after finding they did not violate the federal government's new hate laws.
Dissent Cafe and Bar had posters depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and billionaire Elon Musk in Nazi-like uniforms on their doors with signs reading "sanction Israel" and "stop genocide".
Last Wednesday, just as a live band was about to play, police stormed the venue and asked for the posters to be removed after receiving a complaint.
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ACT Policing said owner David Howe refused to take down or hand over the posters, a claim Howe denies.
Officers declared a crime scene, temporarily shutting down the bar and seizing all seven of the posters.
The gig was cancelled, and patrons were kicked out for several hours.
ACT Policing has investigated the posters under the federal government's new hate laws that were passed following the December 14 attack at Bondi and today said they will not pursue any criminal proceedings.
"Following assessment, it has been determined that while the posters satisfied certain aspects of the legislation, other aspects were not met," ACT Policing said in a statement.
"The posters will be returned to the owner in due course and this matter finalised.
"ACT Policing remains committed to ensuring that alleged antisemitic, racist and hate incidents are addressed promptly and thoroughly and when possible criminality is identified, ACT Policing will not hesitate to take appropriate action."
Howe welcomed the news, saying "for now, satirical art is still allowed".
The incident caused widespread shock from Canberra all the way to the United Kingdom, where the creators of the posters received word their "satirical" art had been met with police action.
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"I completely support Dissent cafe and bars freedom of speech to call out fascists," UK-based protest art group Grow Up Art said in a statement.
"The police are completely wasting everyone's time by having sense of humour failure (no surprises there) but thanks to them for the free promo because everyone has started sharing my protest artwork around Canberra now."
Howe told 9news.com.au at the time that he was shocked as the posters, which had been up for a month and received a positive response, were "obviously parody art with a distinct anti fascist message".
"I struggled to understand how anyone could assume anything else," he said.
"I was shocked and surprised. I don't think their response or their actions were warranted."
Labor Murrumbidgee MP Marisa Paterson contacted ACT Policing to seek clarification around the circumstances that took place, while Independent Kurrajong MP Thomas Emerson wrote to the police minister to seek an explanation.
"This seems pretty Orwellian to me," Emerson said at the time.
"Art intends to provoke and challenge us.
"In attempting to foster social harmony by preventing offence, we can't afford to create more division. Government suppression of artistic expression and dissenting voices is incredibly divisive."
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