<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A Sydney man says an order to turn over his personalised licence plates featuring the infamous nickname of a WWII dictator is a violation of his free speech rights.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Eddie sent a message to </span><a href="https://www.2gb.com/exclusive-sydney-driver-told-to-return-controversial-numberplate/" rel="" target="" title="Ben Fordham Live on 2GB"><span>Ben Fordham Live on 2GB</span></a><span> saying the message he received from Transport for NSW was "another damning indictment of the woke left imposing their thoughts on our society".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His personalised licence plates, for which he claims he paid just shy of $900, read ILDUCE, or "Il Duce" - Italian for "The Leader".</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/meta-to-block-instagram-and-facebook-accounts-early/7d7cbc1e-39f7-43c0-9aea-a96c858d2073" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Meta to start closing teenage accounts weeks social media ban starts</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div><iframe frameborder="0" height="150px" src="https://omny.fm/shows/ben-fordham-full-show/exclusive-sydney-driver-told-to-return-controversial-numberplate/embed" width="100%"></iframe></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Duce is descended from the Latin word "dux", from which the noble title "duke" is also derived.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Il Duce" was also the widely used nickname of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, who ruled Italy from 1922 until his overthrow and death in 1945, and who was a close ally of Adolf Hitler.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Eddie told 2GB's Ben Fordham that he chose the plates to reflect his business role.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/man-ordered-to-turn-in-il-duce-licence-plates/1e2ca54d-06e5-4567-8a59-f68e70c4b31f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/alleged-car-thief-drops-off-baby-victoria/fe3e53de-41cd-4b15-a18b-c7232d9eee14" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Footage catches car thief's reaction on finding sleeping baby</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"(The car) is under my company ownership, the words really mean 'the leader', I'm the director of the company," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He acknowledged there was a "connotation" to Mussolini but maintained the words themselves were innocent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He claimed there was a double standard in place, with other "offensive" licence plates allowed on the roads.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/tropical-cyclone-fina-forms-off-northern-australia/0f75ced2-f1e6-4274-b200-b40b8d939bd0" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>First cyclone of season jumps to category 2, set to U-turn for coast</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Transport for NSW confirmed a member of the public had reported the plates, which were subject to an assessment by the department.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The decision to withdraw the plates is based on a wider perception they could be directly related to fascist dictator Benito Mussolini," a spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The ILDUCE number plates were originally issued due to an oversight in the vetting process."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Transport for NSW will refund the balance of the annual fee owing for the plates and issue replacement plates at no cost.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Eddie will also be able to order a new set of personalised plates up to the same cost as he paid for the ILDUCE plates, free of charge.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Until then, he will be given general issue plates on the spot when he turns in the ILDUCE plates before the deadline of November 24.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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