National laws proposed by the Coalition to ban the display of Nazi symbols should not be passed, a parliamentary committee has recommended.
The bill – introduced by opposition legal affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash – would amend the criminal code to punish people knowingly displaying Nazi symbols with up to 12 months’ imprisonment and $27,500 fines.
Senator Cash put forward the proposal after neo-Nazis attended a Melbourne anti-transgender rally and performed the Sieg Heil salute on the steps of Victorian parliament.
Labor did not support the bill at the time because it had not seen the legislation and referred the proposal to a Senate inquiry.
While “wholeheartedly supporting the intent of the bill”, the inquiry raised concerns with the difficulties that an “open definition of Nazi symbols” would present for law enforcement.
“Identifying specific symbols would provide much-needed clarity to law enforcement agencies and provide assurances to communities of faith that their religious symbols are not captured by the offence,” the committee stated. The committee – led by Labor senator Nita Green – recommended the bill not be passed and that Labor consider “introducing its own bill as a matter of urgency”.
Senator Cash slammed the outcome of the committee process, which she said had been driven by the fact the legislation was introduced by the Liberals.
Read the article by Sarah Ison in The Australian.