Published: 5 May 2023
Last updated: 5 March 2024
Some Jewish groups argued for widening the ban on Nazi symbols, other submissions said any restrictions will be easily avoided by extremists adept at adapting offensive symbols.
The federal Government’s proposed plan to criminalise the public display of Nazi symbols has generated concerns about the effectiveness of a ban.
Community groups have expressed doubts over the enforceability of penalties for online use, the omission of expressions such as tattoos, gestures and greetings, and the potential for extreme-Right groups to subvert the ban through coded symbolism.
The Government’s inquiry into the proposed bill this week made public a list of 26 submissions it received from a range of groups including the Jewish community, religious advocacy bodies, government and civil rights organisations.
Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner with Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Krissy Barrett told the inquiry police would support the bill, but enforcing it would be difficult, the ABC reported.
"We anticipate violent extremist groups may adapt their behaviours and usage of symbols to avoid legislation sanction," she said. "We envisage their adopting [of] innocuous widely used symbols, which may be difficult to enforce in practice."
Neo-Nazi groups often create new symbols that, although they may not represent them identically, bear clear reference to Nazi symbols in order to draw upon the ideology.
Jewish advocacy groups also focused on the problems created by the diversity and fluidity of Nazi symbolism. Sydney Jewish Museum said a “broader definition … that lists a wider range of prohibited forms (flags, insignia, uniforms, slogans and forms of greeting) would be ultimately more expansive in its prohibition.
