Symes commits to action
'We had an opportunity to thank the Attorney-General for the Victorian government's leadership on legislating to ban the Nazi swastika symbol'
Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes recommitted the Victorian government to legislating a ban on the Nazi salute during a meeting this week with the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV).
Symes also confirmed Premier Daniel Andrews’ election commitment to consult with Victorian multicultural and multi-faith leaders, including Jewish leaders, to ensure the state’s vilification and discrimination laws are suitable and effective.
The JCCV was represented at the meeting on Monday by president Daniel Aghion, executive member Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann and CEO Judy Fetter.
“We had an opportunity to thank the Attorney-General for the Victorian government’s leadership on legislating to ban the Nazi swastika symbol,” Aghion said.
“Since their introduction in December, these laws have already given police the opportunity to arrest and prosecute those who seek to intimidate our community and spread the evil Nazi ideology in 21st-century Victoria.”
He said it was heartening to hear from the Attorney-General that the Victorian government is progressing towards banning the Nazi salute.
“Our community was horrified that police were powerless to act against the disturbed individuals who performed this salute outside Victorian Parliament earlier this year,” he said.
Rabbi Kaltmann, the only Jewish member of the Victorian Anti-Racism Taskforce, acknowledged the Victorian government’s ongoing commitment to addressing antisemitism.
“While antisemitism remains a challenge to be addressed in Victoria, the Jewish community has an ally in the Victorian government, including, of course, the Attorney-General,” Rabbi Kaltmann said.
“Our community is grateful for the opportunity to update the Attorney-General on our community’s experience with antisemitism today. We thank the Attorney-General for her understanding of our concerns.”
He added that the JCCV continues to work closely with other multi-faith communities to understand their experiences and to relate the Jewish experience with antisemitism.
“We continue to meet regularly with faith leaders from around Victoria. We all share a commitment to strengthening our state’s diversity and ensure Victoria remains a place where we can safely practise our religion and maintain our traditions,” Rabbi Kaltmann said.
Victoria became the first Australian state or territory to pass legislation to ban public displays of the Nazi swastika in June last year. The laws – which make it a criminal offence to deliberately display the Nazi swastika in public, with penalties of up to almost $22,000 or a year’s imprisonment or both – took effect at the end of last year.
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