Former Neighbours star Damien Richardson charged by Victoria ...

Former soap star Damien Richardson has been charged by Victoria Police over performing a Nazi salute at a Melbourne event in September, where far-right activists were present.

Police allege the 54-year-old gave the gesture, banned in 2022 by the Victorian government, at a restaurant in McKinnon, in Melbourne's south-east.

Video footage showed the former actor giving a speech to a meeting of the National Workers Alliance, a group which stands "for the preservation of Western culture and identity".

On Wednesday police confirmed to the ABC in a statement that "a man has been charged on summons with one count of performing a Nazi gesture in a public place".

"The 54-year-old Glenroy man is expected to appear before Moorabbin Magistrates' Court on 19 March 2025," the statement read.

"The charges follow an incident where it is alleged a person performed a Nazi salute in McKinnon on September 14."

Damien Richardson allegedly gave the Nazi salute at the National Workers Alliance meeting. (Supplied.)

When contacted in November about the event Mr Richardson declined to comment and directed questions to the organiser of the event, Matt Trihey, who said there had "been a lot of misinformation spoken about the event".

"Neither Damien or I have ever been members of Nazi organisations and we have no connection with the NSN (National Socialist Network). I am a free speech advocate and have no control over who purchases online tickets to my events."

Mr Richardson is known to Australian audiences for his roles in Australian series Neighbours, Blue Heelers and McLeod's Daughters. 

Damien Richardson in a scene from Neighbours. (www.imdb.com)

At the event in September and prior to allegedly making the gesture, Mr Richardson had been giving a speech about racial identity and societal change.

"There is a war on men," Mr Richardson said. "I thought it was a war on Western tradition, Western values … and actually, it's an anti-white-male-agenda."

After this comment Mr Richardson allegedly performed the Nazi salute.

With his hand in the air, he continued: "Am I gonna be fined now? I'm gonna go to jail for five years? I mean, really? I mean, this is absurd. This is insane."

"It's crazy. It's so crazy you can't believe it's even happening."

Since the September meeting Mr Richardson has continued to appear at events hosted by the group.

On December 13, Mr Richardson again made a speech at a meeting of the NWA in Melbourne and posted this image of himself on X (formerly Twitter).

At the end of 2022, the Victorian government passed legislation making it illegal to perform the action in public or public view.

Since then a number of people have been charged under the new laws, including at least three members of the neo-Nazi group, National Socialist Network, including Jacob Hersant.

Mr Hersant became the first person to be convicted under the laws in November and was sentenced to one month in prison. He posted bail and has said he intends to appeal his conviction.

The offence carries a maximum $23,000 fine and/or 12 months jail.

Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV