Victoria is to become the first State or Territory in the country to ban the public display of the right-wing Nazi symbol.
Introducing the Summary Offences Amendment (Nazi Symbol Prohibition) Bill 2022, Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said the ban recognised the Hakenkreuz’s (often referred to as the Nazi swastika) role in inciting antisemitism and hate.
Ms Symes said the Bill would make it a criminal offence for a person to intentionally display the Hakenkreuz in public.
“The Nazi symbol glorifies one of the most hateful ideologies in history – its public display does nothing but cause further pain and division,” Ms Symes said
“The Hakenkreuz is a symbol of hate and causes division and significant harm to Victorians, particularly to the Jewish community,” she said.
“The harm caused by hate conduct and vilification can be profound, affecting people’s physical and psychological wellbeing.”
Ms Symes said that once in effect, anyone who intentionally displayed the Nazi symbol in public would face penalties of up to almost $22,000, 12-months imprisonment or both.
The Attorney-General said the reform sent a clear message that the dissemination of Nazi and Neo-nazi ideology through the public display of the Hakenkreuz had no place in Victoria.
“Importantly, the Bill also recognises the cultural and historical significance of the swastika for the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and other faith communities as an ancient and sacred symbol of peace and good fortune,” she said.
“The Bill does not prohibit the display of the swastika in such religious and cultural contexts.”
Ms Symes said the ban would be supported by a community education campaign to raise awareness of the origins of the religious and cultural swastika, its importance to some communities and its distinction to the Nazi symbol.
She said the legislations would come into effect a year after passing to allow for the implementation of the education campaign.
