Australia’s Attorneys-General to discuss how to crack down on Nazi symbol to ‘stamp out abhorrent behaviour’
New laws could ban Nazi-style symbols as top legal officers explore how to stamp out the “abhorrent” behaviour amid rising Far Right extremism.
SA News
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New laws appear on the cards to ban use of Nazi-style symbols amid rising Far Right extremism as Australia’s top legal officers explore how to stamp out the “abhorrent” behaviour.
The Standing Council of Attorneys-General will discuss on Friday how other state and territory governments are fighting rising Far Right extremism.
Attorney-General Kyam Maher will ask colleagues for advice, raising hope the state government will consider possible new laws that would ban public display of the Nazi swastika or other symbols.
His spokeswoman said he “intends to discuss this matter at the Standing Council of Attorneys-General to examine how other jurisdictions have established new laws to stamp out this abhorrent behaviour”.
“It is deeply concerning to see the recent reports of the use of Nazi symbols and salutes in South Australia,” she said.
The council will also discuss raising the criminal age of responsibility.
One Nation Upper House MP Sarah Game introduced a Bill to make public display of the Nazi swastika illegal in South Australia in June last year.
But sources have raised concerns about delays to a committee inquiry she is chairwoman of.
Ms Game said it was “incredibly disrespectful” to criticise the committee’s timings. She said parliamentary officers had assured her it was not seen as being delayed.
Giving evidence, senior police told the inquiry the proposed laws were too narrow and warned that it needed to be widened.
Assistant Commissioner Stuart McLean said it would appropriate to also consider the “production, possession and distribution of that material” including online.
The details emerged as police launched an investigation into a fake image showing at least eight men performing a Nazi salute at an Adelaide Hills pub.
The Advertiser has also revealed the rise of Covid-19 has fuelled a rise in violent neo-Nazi views among middle-class suburban men
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