Hate crime legislation introduced in Queensland
Sixty per cent of Jewish Queenslanders have experienced hate.
Spreading, disseminating and inflicting hate in Queensland is one step closer to being criminalised, thanks to the landmark introduction of hate crime legislation into the Queensland Parliament last week.
Lauding the development, Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies (QJBD) president Jason Steinberg said, “Previously, people could peddle their antisemitic venom with only a potential misdemeanour, civil penalty and slap on the wrist.
“We thank the Parliament’s Legal Affairs and Safety Committee and the Queensland government for their efforts to introduce this legislation, which will send a clear message that racial hatred and vilification is not welcome in this state,” he said.
Noting that 60 per cent of Jewish Queenslanders have experienced hate, Steinberg acknowledged the courage of those who shared their personal stories to the Parliamentary Committee.
“Their testimonies, as painful as it was for them to share, were so important for lawmakers to hear.”
The legislation will make it a criminal offence to display Nazi hate symbols, which was part of the QJBD’s submission to the Parliamentary Committee review in July 2021.
“Jewish people in Queensland can breathe a little easier knowing the police will now have laws under which they can act.”
In its submission to the Queensland Parliament’s Inquiry into vilification and hate crime laws in July 2021, the QJBD also advocated that legislation would need to be flexible enough to accommodate the constant evolution of new hate symbols, and the recognised ancient religious use of some symbols such as the swastika.
“We are pleased that the legislation provides mechanisms for the evolution of hate symbols and recognition that symbols are permitted when the purpose is clearly not to promote hatred,” Steinberg said.
“The swastika in certain formats has, for centuries, been a religious and cultural symbol in several eastern and European traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
“Similarly, Nazi symbols should be available to be used as a way to educate the public about the appalling history of Nazism or for other genuine academic, research or scientific purposes.”
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