Ban would deter rise in Nazi symbols
'Nazi gestures and symbols are universally recognised messages of hate and intimidation'
WHILE the public display of Nazi symbols in support of Nazi ideology was for decades after World War II a rarity in Australia, in recent years there has been a sustained proliferation of these symbols and gestures in public, particularly online, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) has stated.
The observations were in the ECAJ submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into prohibiting the displays of Nazi symbols.
“The negative impacts have included threats and menace conveyed to communities who are targeted by Nazi hate ideology, and an undermining of their sense of security and of social cohesion,” the submission stated.
ECAJ noted that legislation to ban public displays of Nazi symbols and gestures has been enacted in NSW and Victoria, and bills are under consideration in Queensland and Tasmania, in addition to the federal bill.
“They take different forms and treat particular issues differently. Australia has struggled to come up with a best-practice model law. In this submission, we consider how to define ‘Nazi symbol’, ‘public act’, ‘Nazi gesture’ and the mental element of the offence, as well as specific issues such as the constitutional head of power, the display of Nazi symbols via body tattoos, the advertising and sale of Nazi memorabilia, defences, police powers and penalties. We also address the need for any legislation to be complemented by appropriate measures in school education,” the submission explained.
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), in its submission, stated that banning public displays of Nazi symbols and the Nazi salute will have a “chilling and deterrent effect” on racist elements and will strengthen multicultural harmony.
The AIJAC submission, lodged by its executive director Dr Colin Rubenstein and its international and community affairs director Jeremy Jones, wholeheartedly endorsed the proposed bill.
“Nazi gestures and symbols are universally recognised messages of hate and intimidation,” Rubenstein and Jones said.
“A segment of the population will always hold abhorrent racial beliefs regardless of any educational or legislative policy, and the purpose of this bill is to marginalise and punish such people for the open display of such beliefs.”
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