Victorians who perform a Nazi salute in public will face hefty fines or up to a year in jail under proposed new laws that will be debated in parliament this week.
Five months after the gesture was used at a protest attended by neo-Nazis, the Andrews government will use the resumption of parliament to ban the Nazi salute, as well as other gestures and symbols used by the Nazi Party.
Holocaust survivors, Victoria Police and members of the Jewish community were consulted on the new laws, which will result in penalties of more than $23,000 or 12 months’ jail, or both, for anyone who intentionally displays or performs a Nazi symbol or gesture in public.
The legislation will include a carve-out for some groups including academics or actors. An exception will also be made for traders of historical memorabilia, or for publishing “a fair and accurate report” of matters deemed in the public interest.
Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said Victorians have “zero tolerance for the glorification of hateful ideology”.
“We’re making sure people who use these symbols and gestures to harass, intimidate and incite hate are held accountable for their cowardly behaviour,” Symes said.
“While we wish making these laws wasn’t necessary, we will always tackle antisemitism, hatred and racism head-on – because all Victorians deserve to feel accepted, safe and included.”
Read the article by Annika Smethurst in The Age.