Australia finally bans Nazi symbols-well, almost
A Nazi flag is seen flying in the town of Beulah, in southeastern Australia. (Courtesy via JTA)
Victoria state government has moved to ban the use of Nazi symbols including the swastika as part of landmark reform aimed at boosting human rights protections.
Victoria will become the first Australian state or territory to make the public display of the symbols illegal following a recent rise in neo-Nazi activity and calls from the opposition and anti-Semitic leaders to stamp out hateful behaviour.
The proposed ban will form part of sweeping new anti-vilification reform aimed at reaching beyond race and religion to cover areas such as sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability and HIV/AIDS status.
Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich applauded the decision, which is expected to be legislated in the first half of 2022.
“This is a day for the history book, a joyful and profound moment,” he said.
“Bravo to the government for rising to the challenge and declaring in a clear and unmistakable voice that the ultimate emblems of inhumanity and racism, that are meant to break our spirit and instil fear, will never find a refuge in our state.”
The changes follow the release of a report from the Victorian Parliament’s legal and social issues committee, which found vilification was common for many Victorians, including people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders, particular faith groups, those who identify as LGBTI and people with disabilities.
As part of the reform, the government said it would work to make civil and criminal vilification easier to prove.
Planning is under way to determine the best way to make these changes, with some recommendations requiring the government to change laws and others needing input from the Victorian community.
Consultation is also expected to take place around how the Nazi symbol ban is crafted to ensure appropriate exceptions are in place, such as for educational or historical purposes, or for other uses of the symbol.
Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said all forms of hate were unacceptable and had no place in Victoria.
“Expanding our anti-vilification laws to protect more Victorians sends a clear message that this vile behaviour will not be tolerated,” she said.
Shadow police minister David Southwick said the announcement was an important step forward.
“For too long, frontline police and local communities have been powerless to stop the Nazi swastika being used as a tool to spread hate,” he said.
“More recently we have seen a rise in extremist nationalist and racist individuals and groups and this ban will go a long way to take away the symbol that they hide behind.”
The government’s anti-racism taskforce will also now move to develop a new Victorian anti-racism strategy.
Calls to ban the public display of the swastika were reignited early last year after a couple in regional Victoria flew a flag featuring the symbol above their home.
Its presence outraged several neighbours, who complained to police.
But both police and local council said they had no powers to remove the flag.
It came as the state government was preparing to review Victoria’s anti-vilification laws after Reason Party MP Fiona Patten pushed to widen the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act.
Then, last month, an eight-month-long Age investigation revealed a rising number of home-grown neo-Nazis were plotting a white revolution on Australian soil, meeting in homes and public parks across places including Victoria.
ASIO chief Mike Burgess said what some neo-Nazis were prepared to do to realise their political ambitions “should be of grave concern to all Australians”, prompting calls for Australia’s largest neo-Nazi group to be banned as a terrorist organisation.
On Thursday, Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence said Nazi symbols glorified one of the most hateful ideologies in human history.
“We must confront hate, prevent it, and give it no space to grow,” she said.
