It was reported that a man has been charged with having in his possesion for sale in the main street of Alice Springs, T-shirts and Baseball caps carrying the slogan "White Power Alice Springs". He also admitted removing his personalized vehicle number plates "because he feared reprisals if spotted!"

The Magistrates Court allowed an application for the suppression of his identity because he had "received threats since being publicly outed as the person responsible for the merchandise".

This whole issue is detestable and is an outright example of racism at it`s best ( or worst! ).

A citizen charged with Marihuana possession has his or her name splashed across the media, yet here we see a person charged with ( and admitting to ) outright racial vilification and his name is suppressed!

The question here that would concern a lot of citizens is the issue of whether the offender is a non-Australian of the type that relishes the principles and actions of the infamous Ku Klux Klan, bearing in mind the proximity of the Pine Gap Installation, or is it simply a case of a misguided person who sees the opportunity to exploit a very sensitive issue?

I believe that justice is NOT being served by hiding this person`s name or ethnicity, rather the opposite, by creating an situation of suspicion and frustration for all concerned!

Crackcup - while I agree that, on the face of it, this person appears to be an execrable toad - what purpose do you think would be served in publishing this twat's identity before he's convicted of the crime of which he's been charged?

I agree with your central point (I think) - i.e. that people who are charged with any kind of crime should not have their personal details published until they are convicted of that crime.

CJ:

The point I was trying to get across was basically is this "moral pervert" just a misguided youth who has a thing against coloured people, or is he one of the "shaft" dwellers from Pine Gap who is spreading the gospel of the KKK there in a town that could be ripe for the implantation of such vile ideals?

If the idiot`s name and ethnicity was disclosed it may just take the heat away from our friends from across the ocean, and at the same time nip in the bud a very despicable expression of racial disharmony!

Why should this wacker`s name be withheld from the public gaze, when he was stupid enough to publicly offer for sale his items of racial hatred, whilst many people in Alice would already know who he is, because of his actions?

Again I would ask how a thinking person could compare the seriousness of the crime of consuming pot ( with offender named ) against this crime of racial vilification in the heartland of the Aboriginal people?

Crackup,
I don't think the laws an ass in this example but simply reflect two issues.
- the cultural perceptions.
- proportional justice.
a What would be served by this nong (which I suggest he is),his family being victimised (Keep in mind the potential extremes of emotion being involved)?
Sure he deserves some punishment but let it be proportional to the crime.

If he was a US KKK nutter then let the court deport him.
If a local racist bigot I fail to see how it serves any useful purpose making a mater of him to his cause(sic). If he does it again or has done such before increase his punishment accordingly.

NB justice(incl prisons) are not solely about punishment but also rehabilitation. (albeit somewhat ineffectively at times) disproportionality merely increases/delays the problem not solves it.

No one should have their name mentioned until convicted. But you'd think this clown would need 'protection'. The police would get less co-operation if they named these vile bags of waste and they got stabbed to death next day.

Colour has everything to do with it, had his slogan been 'Green power' no one would have minded. Had it said 'Black Power' there would have been cheers.