The McGowan Government has recently announced plans to criminalise the display and possession of Nazi symbols. Western Australia joins Victoria and New South Wales in passing such laws, and Queensland and Tasmania have announced intentions to do the same.
Once passed, the reforms will see penalties — some as severe as prison time — enforced upon any person who possesses and displays the insignia.
The Hakenkreuz — often referred to by its Hindu name, the ‘swastika’ — is the Nazi symbol Adolf Hitler and his party took from Hinduism and turned into a symbol of hate. It’s offensive to many members of society, particularly the Jewish community, Holocaust survivors, and those fighting against fascism, as it’s generally associated with racial hatred, antisemitism, and genocide.
“The McGowan Government will not tolerate hate groups [which] seek to spread fear, division, and violence in our multicultural society. I thank Members of Parliament and Jewish community bodies who have raised concerns with the Government about growing incidences involving the display of Nazi symbols,” Attorney General John Quigley said.
“We will continue to work with stakeholder groups during the drafting of the new laws to ensure we strike the right balance between banning offensive behaviour and preserving legitimate uses of the swastika.”
The Government will continue to allow the legitimate use of Nazi symbols in academic and educational documents, publishing fair and accurate media reports, or buying or selling bona fide World War II memorabilia. Given that the swastika is still used as a symbol of peace and prosperity in some religions, this law will not prohibit the display or possession of it when used for a genuine religious purpose.
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Lead image: Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images
