Australia to Ban Nazi Symbols in Bid to Curb Far Right

Facts

• The Australian government has announced plans to introduce new laws banning the public display and sale of Nazi symbols. The news comes as the country sees an alleged rise in far-right activity.¹
• Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced Thursday that the government would propose bans on the display and sale of Nazi motifs, including the swastika and the lightning bolt insignia of the SS, the paramilitary wing of the German Nazi party.²
• While most Australian states already ban Nazi symbols, the federal government is proposing an amendment that would make trading in such material illegal nationwide.³
• The government will put the change, known as the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Prohibited Hate Symbols and Other Measures) Bill, forward to parliament next week, with maximum penalties for breaking the law including A$16.5K in fines or up to one year in prison.⁴
• However, displaying the swastika for religious, academic, journalistic, or artistic purposes will not be outlawed under the legislation, nor will the Nazi salute be covered by the ban.⁴
• Dreyfuss said that while the adjustment, 'may not be the end of what we do to criminalize hate speech,' he added that they 'need to make it absolutely clear that there's no place in Australia for Nazi symbols that glorify the horrors of the Holocaust.'⁵

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²Al Jazeera, ³The Times of Israel, ⁴Skynews and ⁵Archive.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by The New Daily. As Australia sees a resurgence in neo-Nazi propaganda, which is increasingly becoming more organized and visible, this ban would at least stop people from profiting off of celebrating Nazi ideology and prevent disillusioned youth from getting drawn into that ideology. These evil symbols have no place in Australia, and its the duty of lawmakers to protect people from growing threats to minorities and democratic values more generally.
• Narrative B, as provided by The Conversation. This move will likely blow up in lawmakers' faces, as they're bringing international media attention to an incredibly small group of fringe creepers. The handful of neo-Nazis in Australia need public attention to grow, and the Attorney General just put their hateful ideas in the national spotlight. In addition, not all anti-immigration, or even white supremacist individuals are on the right; it is unwise to lump these people into a single ostracized group that risks pushing them to unite under more extreme views.