Tasmania bans Nazi salute
Historic legislation, prohibiting the Nazi salute, has been passed by both houses of the Tasmanian Parliament.
Tasmania has made history by becoming the first state in Australia to prohibit the Nazi salute.
The new legislation has been passed by both houses of the Tasmanian Parliament.
The bill specifically bans public displays of the Nazi swastika and the Nazi salute, and while it still awaits a final reading in the Upper House in August, this is just a formality.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) co-CEO Peter Wertheim noted that the Tasmanian legislation is “in many ways the best and most effective legislation on this subject in Australia”
“Its application is not limited to only one or two Nazi symbols. It will apply to any symbol that is displayed as a Nazi or neo-Nazi symbol,” he said.
“The law also proscribes the performance of Nazi gestures, a first in Australia.”
He also noted that the legislation grants police with broad authority to immediately instruct the removal of a Nazi symbol if it is being publicly displayed. In cases where these instructions are ignored, the police are empowered to carry out the removal themselves.
The primary criticism of the bill is that the penalties outlined in the Tasmanian legislation are considerably milder compared to similar offences in other states.
Additionally, the Tasmanian law includes a provision known as a “sunset clause”, which means that its validity will expire after 12 months.
Unless it is renewed or re-enacted, the law will cease to be in effect after this period.
Hobart Hebrew Congregation president Jeff Schneider said, “In these times of rising antisemitism and extremism, we appreciate the Tasmanian government passing this important legislation.”
Schneider recalled, “In 2020, a resident in a regional area of Tasmania rang the congregation stating his dismay about a neighbour displaying a Nazi flag.”
The police or government were powerless to take any action.
“We are glad that this is no longer the case,” he said.
Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich told The AJN, “Tasmanians will now wake up to a better, stronger and more tolerant Tasmania.
“Although our work is not done, this is one more step forward in protecting the wells and foundations of democracy, our cherished way of life and our country.”
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