A Sydney man who pleaded guilty to multiple vandalism charges was determined by the state’s highest court to not be motivated by antisemitism. The court found the man was a “vandal for hire” and acted on commission, rather than holding bigoted beliefs. Despite the nature of the graffiti – initially labelled as antisemitic – the judge ruled out any risk of the man committing a serious terrorism offence. The case involved a spree of vandalism in Sydney's eastern suburbs. This ruling clarifies the intent behind the acts, distinguishing them from hate crimes. The decision underscores the importance of establishing motive in assessing vandalism cases and avoids a potentially harsher sentencing based on incorrect assumptions.