Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has challenged Anthony Albanese to introduce laws banning Nazi symbols after the government accused him of complicity for failing to condemn the display of the Nazi salute at a protest that was attended by a Victorian state Liberal MP.
A livid Mr Dutton said as home affairs and defence minister, he had encouraged ASIO and police to prosecute neo-Nazis, while the “slaughter” of Jews during World War II and treatment of Jews today was an “abomination”.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus sought to contrast Mr Dutton with Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto who on Tuesday morning released publicly a letter of motion to expel Moira Deeming from the parliamentary party room after she attended a rally associated with neo-Nazi supporters.
Ms Deeming will fight the motion, which accuses her of organising, promoting and attending a rally with British anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen, who is “known to be publicly associated with far right-wing extremist groups including neo-Nazi activists”.
The Melbourne rally was attended by members of the National Socialist Movement who performed Nazi salutes.