New laws being introduced in NSW will make it a criminal offence to publicly chant Nazi slogans or display support for Nazi ideology.
The legislation is a direct response to a recent rally outside state parliament, where around 60 neo-Nazi protesters, including members of the National Socialist Network, chanted “blood and honour” and carried banners calling to “Abolish the Jewish lobby”.
Senior officials claimed they only learned about the rally after it occurred.
Recently one attendee, South African national Matthew Gruter, was identified and has now been detained for deportation after his visa was revoked.
The proposed amendments to the Crimes Act 1900 will specifically target conduct that indicates support for Nazi ideology in public, including the use of Nazi chants or slogans. They will carry maximum penalties of up to one year’s imprisonment or a fine of $11,000, unless the conduct occurs near a synagogue, Jewish school, or the Sydney Jewish Museum. In those cases, the maximum penalties are doubled, meaning someone convicted could face up to two years’ imprisonment or a $22,000 fine.
Police will be given new powers to order the removal of suspected Nazi symbols, with refusal punishable by a $2,200 fine or up to three months’ imprisonment. Officers will also be able to require individuals to reveal their identity if it is reasonably suspected to aid an investigation into Nazi conduct. These measures apply regardless of whether a protest has been authorised.
“The deplorable stunt we saw outside NSW Parliament has no place in our society. Nobody should be subject to this vile hatred because of their background or faith,” said the NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley.
“We are giving police and the courts additional powers to hold Nazi extremists to account for their abhorrent views.”
The government is also seeking to remove a sunset clause on the offence of inciting racial hatred, ensuring it does not expire after three years, with support from the opposition and Greens.
The bill will be introduced to parliament but will be referred to a lower house committee for further scrutiny before it can pass. The government is not fast-tracking the process before this year’s parliamentary sessions end.
Lead image: X/ @CairnesLinda
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