The Rockliff Liberal Government has sent a strong message that hateful and offensive conduct is not welcome in our State with the passing of historic reforms through the second reading stage in the Legislative Council to prohibit Nazi symbols and salutes in Tasmania.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Elise Archer said the nation-leading reforms would ensure that Nazi symbols and salutes, and the appalling and distressing message they send, have absolutely no place in our society.
“I have personally driven this important reform, and on behalf of our Government, we strongly condemn any display of hate in our community.
Nazis will not have a refuge here in Tasmania, and this sends a very clear message that Nazi symbols and salutes are not welcome in Tasmania,” the Attorney-General said.
“The Police Offences Act 1935 (the Police Offences Act) will now require that a person must not, by a public act and without a legitimate public purpose, display a Nazi symbol if the person knows, or ought to know, that the symbol is a Nazi symbol.
“Following the disturbing use of the Nazi salute during a demonstration in Victoria earlier this year, I have also ensured our reform includes the prohibition of the use of the Nazi salute.
“Nazi displays are a blatant breach of both our moral and community standards, and I am very pleased we have delivered these reforms, which is the first of its kind in Australia, that will help us deliver a safer and more caring community for all.”
The Bill importantly acknowledges the continued importance of the swastika to the Buddhist, Hindu and Jain communities, and clearly states that the display of a swastika in this context is not an offence.
The Bill also acknowledges other legitimate public purposes for display, including other religious, cultural, academic, educational purposes and in opposition to fascism, Nazism or neo-Nazism.
The penalty for a person convicted of committing either the offence of displaying a Nazi symbol or performing a Nazi gesture is a maximum penalty not exceeding 20 penalty units, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.
Similar to other offences in the Police Offences Act, repeat offending is considered serious. If the person has previously been convicted of the offence within six months, the person is liable to a penalty not exceeding 40 penalty units, or imprisonment not exceeding six months.
The Attorney-General was pleased to host for the Legislative Council debate today Mr Dvir Abramovich, Director of the Program in Jewish Culture & Society at the University of Melbourne, and Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission.
“No-one knows more about the atrocities committed in Nazi Germany than our Jewish and other impacted communities in Australia, such as those living with disability and those who identify as LGBTQI+ who were also targeted under the Nazi regime.
“All of our diggers who fought so bravely against the atrocities in World War two, and the family and friends of all those impacted by the attempt at their eradication, would appreciate the significant and terrifying impact these symbols have, and why they do not belong in our society,” the Attorney-General said.