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Victoria to make public display of Nazi symbols illegal
Victoria is set to become to first Australian state or territory to ban the public display of Nazi symbols, with legislation due to be presented early next year.
Lauren Croft
Announced on Thursday, the landmark reform will help stamp out hateful behaviour and boost human rights protections according to the Andrews Government, who will present the legislation to parliament in the first half of 2022.
Minister for multicultural affairs Ros Spence said that the ban was in recognition of the rise in neo-Nazi activity and its role in inciting hate behaviour.
"Nazi symbols glorify one of the most hateful ideologies in human history. We must confront hate, prevent it, and give it no space to grow,” she said.
The new measures are in response to a report released by the Victorian Parliament’s Legal and Social Issues Committee earlier this year, which analysed the state’s anti-vilification laws.
The report found that for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders, those who identify as LGBTIQ+ and people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to vilification. As a result, the Andrews Government said it will endeavour to make civil and criminal vilification easier to prove in the courts.
The Government’s Anti-Racism Taskforce is also developing Victoria’s new Anti-Racism Strategy, which will complement the implementation of the Committee’s recommendations.
Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes added that the committee’s recommendations were just the beginning in protecting more Victorians against hate.
“All forms of hate are unacceptable and have no place in Victoria – expanding our anti-vilification laws to protect more Victorians sends a clear message that this vile behaviour will not be tolerated,” she said.
“I thank the committee and all those who participated in the inquiry for their work on these complex issues. Our new laws will build upon their efforts and we will make sure we consult widely with the community and impacted groups to get the settings right before making legislative changes.”
Lauren Croft
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.
