Victoria bans the display of Nazi Symbol: The Swastika

Victoria is the first state in Australia to expressly prohibit the display of the Nazi swastika.

People who intentionally display the symbol face up to a year in jail or a A $22,000 ($12,300; $15,000) fine under a new law.

"Nobody has the right to spread racism, hatred, or anti-Semitism," said Victorian Premier Dan Andrews.

In recent years, Australia, like many other countries, has seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents. Victoria already has anti-hate speech laws in place, but they have been criticised for "gaps." The local community was enraged when a couple raised a swastika flag above their home in 2020, fueling calls for reform.

State officials referred to the new legislation as a "proud moment." Three other states have stated that they will enact similar legislation.

"The Nazi symbol glorifies one of history's most hateful ideologies; its public display does nothing but cause further pain and division," Victorian Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said in a statement.

Exemptions exist for displaying the symbol in historical, educational, and artistic contexts. It has also been used in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain religious contexts for millennia.

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People will only be prosecuted if they refuse to remove the symbol after being asked to do so.

Dvir Abramovich, chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, who campaigned for the law, called it a "thunderous blow" to the neo-Nazi movement.

"As our nation confronts the deep stain of a resurgent white supremacist movement peddling a dangerous and dehumanising agenda," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, "this parliament has declared that the symbol of Nazism will never find a safe harbour in our state."

According to a Tel Aviv University study, the number of anti-Semitic incidents worldwide increased dramatically last year. Australia set a national record with 88 in a single month.

In 2020, Australia's intelligence chief warned of a "real threat" from neo-Nazis to the country's security. He claimed that "small cells" of right-wing extremists met on a regular basis to salute Nazi flags and share their ideology.

Unions and others have accused far-right groups of "infiltrating" large protests against lockdowns and other restrictions since the pandemic began.

The new laws will be implemented in six months.

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