© ABC Ballarat: Dominic CansdaleThe Victorian government is moving to stamp out the public display of Nazi iconography. It's notable the symbol used in the graffiti above isn't actually a Nazi swastika
Today the state announced plans to make Nazi symbols including the hooked cross illegal and make civil and criminal vilification easier to prove so that victims can seek justice through the courts more easily.
The legislation is expected to be introduced in the first half of 2022.
Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said the findings of a recent inquiry into the state's anti-vilification protections were "sobering".
She said community consultation later this year would determine how broadly the ban would be applied.
"There's certainly very little opposition to banning the Nazi symbol in the form of the swastika and what it stands for and how it is used," Ms Symes said.
"To me, the most important people to hear from are Victorians who unfortunately have been subjected to this abhorrent behaviour and how they think us as a state should respond and prevent it," Ms Symes said.
The legislation is likely to include exemptions for symbols to be displayed in certain settings, such as museums, but Ms Symes expects memorabilia sales to be "one of the more complex areas".
"You wouldn't want it to be a loophole to enable people to publicly display a swastika by virtue of having it on a piece of clothing, walking around in public, for example," she said.
The government will also consider tougher consequences than the current maximum penalty of almost $10,000 in fines or six months' imprisonment.
Ms Symes said she would raise the issue with her state and federal counterparts at the next Ministers of Attorneys-General meeting in October.
Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich said today was "a day for the history books".
"I will be lying if I didn't admit to shedding tears of joy," he said.
"Above all, this announcement is a resounding triumph for the victims of the Holocaust, the survivors and our brave diggers who died to vanquish the evil Third Reich regime, and a defeat of homegrown neo-Nazis who seek to keep Hitler's legacy alive."
Dr Abramovich is urging other states and territories to follow Victoria's lead.
The Victorian Liberal Nationals and equality groups have also welcomed the move.
Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs Neil Angus called the reform "an important step to ensuring a safer, more tolerant community".
But John Roskam, executive director of the Institute of Public Affairs, has slammed the proposed laws and the Liberal National Party's support of them.
"This is the most vicious attack on free speech ever contemplated anywhere in Australia," he said.
"It is unbelievable that the Victorian Liberal Party has been entirely comfortable with the idea of giving the Andrews government the power to censor mainstream opinions."
Comment: Since Nazism isn't a mainstream opinion, Roskam is very likely referencing how the anti-vilification laws can be loosely applied.
David Wegman, a resident of the Grampians with Jewish ancestry, has also welcomed the changes.
He was one of many shocked by a group of Neo-Nazis that visited the national park in January.
"With my background in the army and with family in the police force, I know intimately the pain many police members go through not having the legislature match the reality on the ground, and being hamstrung to do something about people they know are acting against community good," he said.
"If this makes their job easier and gives them something to demonstrate they will take a stand ... that is a really great victory."
Hindus highlight 'basic difference'
The swastika is a symbol of the Hindu religion that has been used on auspicious occasions for millennia.
"It is drawn on houses and temples and when kitchens are used for the first time," Hindu Temples Council of Australia convener Karthik Arasu said.
"[The government needs] to understand the basic difference — we have been trying to reach them about it.
"[The Nazi] symbol is completely different.
"If they are going to ban the Nazi symbol, we welcome it — but if they end up banning swastikas it will create a lot of hardship for hundreds of thousands of Hindus in Australia.
"They will already be threatened that someone will penalise or report them.
"We are concerned about people's safety."
Reader Comments
R.C.
If the time comes to fix this in our lives, it will by like lancing a boil of toxins on the body of society.
RC
The problem is, as it appears to me, is that Buddhists are the least likely to stand up and gripe loudly, unlike BLM BM BS /CIAntifa woke idiot types.
RC
RC