Nazi salute and hate symbols criminalised

Today the Parliament has passed the Albanese Government’s legislation that criminalises the Nazi salute and the public display of and trade in Nazi hate symbols.

The Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Prohibited Hate Symbols and Other Measures) Bill has passed with unanimous support, sending a clear message there is no place in Australia for acts and symbols that glorify the horrors of the Holocaust and terrorist acts.

This is the first Commonwealth legislation of its kind and will ensure no one will be allowed to glorify or profit from acts and symbols that celebrate the Nazis and their evil ideology.

The Nazi salute and hate symbols are widely recognised and used to promote hate, recruit followers and convey messages of violence. It is utterly unacceptable that there have been incidents of their use in Australia.

In addition, the Bill ensures that glorifying and praising acts of terrorism are criminal offences under Commonwealth law. The Bill will also increase the penalties for those seeking to glorify these atrocities.

The Bill also criminalises the use of a carriage service for violent extremist material, tackling the rise of violent radicalism proliferating online and enabling law enforcement to intervene in the spread of violent, hateful propaganda.

Australia is a proudly multicultural nation where everyone should be able to live without fear of discrimination.

We must promote and support respect, acceptance and understanding across the Australian community. This is a moment for the country to come together and today the Parliament has united to do just that.