Bill criminalising Nazi salute and hate symbols passes parliament
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said it sends a clear message that there is no place in Australia for acts and symbols that glorify the horrors of the Holocaust and terrorist acts
It is now a criminal offence in Australia to perform a Nazi salute, publicly display two prominent Nazi hate symbols or trade in them, under new federal laws that passed on Wednesday.
The Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Prohibited Hate Symbols and Other Measures) Bill passed with unanimous support. It is the first Commonwealth legislation of its kind.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said it sends 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 laws will ensure no one will be allowed to glorify or profit from acts and symbols that celebrate the Nazis and evil ideology.
“The Nazi salute and hate symbols are widely recognised and used to promote hate, recruit followers and convey messages of violence. It is utterly unacceptable that there have been incidents of their use in Australia,” Dreyfus said.
“In addition, the Bill ensures that glorifying and praising acts of terrorism are criminal offences under Commonwealth law. The Bill will also increase the penalties for those seeking to glorify these atrocities.
“The Bill also criminalises the use of a carriage service for violent extremist material, tackling the rise of violent radicalism proliferating online and enabling law enforcement to intervene in the spread of violent, hateful propaganda.”
Dreyfus said Australia is a “proudly multicultural nation” where everyone should be able to live without fear of discrimination.
“We must promote and support respect, acceptance and understanding across the Australian community. This is a moment for the country to come together and today the Parliament has united to do just that,” he said.
Anti Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich said it “is a day for the history books”.
“This bill delivers a blow to those inflamed with vicious antisemitism who have weaponised this evil gesture and symbol as a rallying cry to terrorise the community,” he said.
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