A member of a neo-Nazi group found with instructions on how to carry out a terrorist attack would be better rehabilitated by avoiding jail and having a "romantic relationship", his lawyer has told Adelaide's District Court.
Duncan Robert Cromb, 38, and Jackson Trevor Pay, 23, pleaded guilty to possessing documents and records of information for terrorist acts.
During a pre-sentencing hearing on Monday, the court heard Cromb and Pay were members of the National Socialist Network, which operated under the name of the "SA Men's Health Club", when they were arrested in 2021.
Both men were arrested in possession of multiple documents containing instructions on how to commit a terrorist act, examples of successful terrorists acts and information based on "racist ideologies".
Cromb was also allegedly found in possession of recordings of the Christchurch terror attack in 2019.
Prosecutors argued that both men "present a risk to the safety of the community".
A report about Cromb, prepared by forensic psychologist Luke Broomhall in April this year, which was read out in court, found that the 38-year-old still held "white supremacist values", despite being in custody for more than a year.
Cromb's lawyer John Wilson said the report showed that allowing his client to re-establish ties with his family and the opportunity to enter a "romantic relationship" could help reduce his risk of reoffending.
However, Judge Joanne Tracey said Mr Broomhall was "very guarded" in his assessment of Cromb's prospect for rehabilitation.
"His (Cromb's) views still remain the same," Judge Tracey said.
"He still holds white supremacist values and alignment."
Mr Wilson said his client had instructed that he "doesn't hold those beliefs" and that he had changed his attitude after interactions with people of other races in prison.
"The way I interpreted Mr Broomhall's report is because of the long-standing nature of the beliefs, Mr Cromb has had, he is somewhat concerned or sceptical to the ability for one to completely walk away from them," he said.
Mr Wilson said his client had no intention of resuming ties with any of the groups he was previously affiliated with if he was to be released.
"He has severed ties with the group in its entirety," he said.
The court also heard that Cromb was raised in a conservative Christian home and was home-schooled until Year 10 with limited socialisation skills.
'I'm not a terrorist', accused says
Jackson Pay's lawyer Stacey Carter read out part of an apology on behalf of her client in which Pay stated "I'm not a terrorist".
In explaining Pay's political beliefs, Ms Carter said, "I wouldn't put it so high as white supremacist".
"His core belief really is that he wants to secure an existence for white people," she said.
"He doesn't carry an animosity or any violent intentions towards other (cultural) groups."
Ms Carter said Pay, who now lives and works in Western Australia, has since disassociated from the National Socialist Network and his friendship group was very different now.
The maximum penalty for the charge of possessing documents and records of information for terrorist acts is seven years imprisonment.
Cromb and Pay will be sentenced in June.
