‘Symbols of hatred’: NSW seeks to ban Nazi flags

The Berejilklian government is seeking advice on how it can ban the public display of Nazi symbols after a spate of recent incidences where swastika flags have been flown.

NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman confirmed on Thursday he has requested the advice from the Department of Communities and Justice about a ban, which follows a flag being displayed from a Newtown home at the weekend.

“These symbols of hatred and anti-Semitism are unacceptable anywhere in our community,” Mr Speakman said. “They are deeply offensive and capable of traumatising survivors of genocide and their loved ones. The small but disgraceful minority who display these images insult the memory of the millions of victims of the Holocaust and those who died defending the world from this hatred.”

Labor frontbencher Walt Secord, who is also deputy chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel group, urged the government to consider a ban and Liberal MP for Vaucluse Gabrielle Upton wrote to Mr Speakman on Monday.

In her letter, Ms Upton asked Mr Speakman to “identify the best ways the government can end this totally offensive and deplorable use of the Nazi flag”.

Mr Secord said he welcomed the move by Mr Speakman, saying while he wanted the flag ban it should go through the proper process and be referred to the Attorney-General’s department.

Read the article by Alexandra Smith in The Sydney Morning Herald and the Brisbane Times.