Right-winger in appeal

FAR-RIGHT activist Blair Cottrell has been knocked back in his bid to fight for “free speech” in the High Court but will continue his campaign in Victoria’s County Court.

The leader of the United Patriots Front appeared in the County Court yesterday to appeal his conviction for inciting hatred, contempt and ridicule of Muslims after making a video beheading a dummy in protest of a Bendigo mosque. Cottrell and supporters Neil Erikson and Christopher Neil Shortis were convicted in 2017 and fined $2000 each.

Lawyer John Bolton lodged an application with the High Court, arguing Cottrell had been charged with an “invalid law” under the Constitution.

Mr Bolton told Judge Lisa Hannan yesterday that the High Court had dismissed the application, referring the matter back to Victoria’s County Court. The lawyer said he would now argue in the County Court there was “no such class of persons as Muslims” that could be offended by the video, given the variety among the Islamic faith.

“Who is this supposed to have caused people to think bad thoughts about?” he argued, adding he’d examine “what ‘Muslim’ means”.

Cottrell (pictured) will return to court on June 5.