Published: 24 March 2023
Last updated: 5 March 2024
Instead of focusing on a specific symbol, we need a federal ban on the promotion of Nazism and its ideology, including the use of flags, insignia, uniforms, slogans and gestures.
Saturday’s horrific display of black-clad neo-Nazis throwing Hitler salutes on the steps of the Victorian Parliament has left the Jewish community in shock. We knew they were out there, but the sight of Nazism being promoted in the centre of Melbourne under police protection took us to a new low.
Previous displays of Nazi symbolism, often away from the public eye, have been amplified through the media rather than quietly erased. That has emboldened the neo-Nazis and helped them recruit. Many of us have spoken out in frustration at this. Saturday, however, was different. It was highly public, occurred openly metres away from police, and was a clear message that the law as it currently stands, even with the much-lauded ban on the Nazi swastika, cannot stop local neo-Nazis.
Previous legislation was a symbolic win, not an effective one. Under media pressure created by those amplifying the presence of Nazi symbols, regardless of whether it was actual neo-Nazis or scrawling by delinquent children, Victoria rushed to be the first state to ban the Nazi swastika. We didn’t look to the international experience, and while there was a consultation, key advice, including from the Online Hate Prevention Institute, was ignored. We need to do better this time.
Instead of focusing on specific symbols, we need a general ban on the glorification of Nazism and the promotion of Nazi and neo-Nazi ideology, including through the use of flags, insignia, uniforms, slogans, symbols, and gestures. This focus on the purpose would prevent neo-Nazis using such symbols. It would not impact the use of such symbols by others in educational material, research or even in public protests.
Memes comparing Premier Daniel Andrews to a Nazi, or visually morphing him into Hitler, began circulating during Covid by the anti-lockdown movement. We saw one circulating as recently as this week. The anti-lockdown movement also co-opted the yellow star that Jews were forced to wear by Hitler’s Nazis. As I warned at the time, this rhetoric is more than merely offensive. Nazis infiltrated the anti-lockdown movement and supported the use of Nazi comparisons. It normalised their symbols.
