Australia has introduced groundbreaking legislation to ban the public performance of the Nazi salute and the display or sale of Nazi hate symbols, including the swastika. These laws, effective from Monday, mark the first of their kind in the country. Offenders face up to 12 months in prison for publicly performing the Nazi salute or displaying the swastika.
Mark Dreyfus, Australia’s Attorney-General, emphasized that the laws send a clear message that there is no place in Australia for acts and symbols that glorify the horrors of the Holocaust and terrorist acts. The legislation aims to prevent anyone from glorifying or profiting from symbols celebrating the Nazis and their evil ideology.
These measures come amid a rise in antisemitism in Australia, particularly in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Preliminary data from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry revealed a spike in antisemitic incidents, with 662 reported between October and November 2023 compared to 495 incidents in the previous 12 months.
The move follows instances of antisemitic slogans chanted at a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Sydney Opera House in October. A video posted online showed protesters launching flares and chanting offensive phrases. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned these actions as “horrific” and “appalling” at the time.
Australia’s commitment to curbing antisemitism and preventing the glorification of Nazi symbols is reflected in these unprecedented laws, signaling a strong stance against hate symbols and terrorism glorification in the country.
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