‘No place in South Australia’: Nazi swastika sprayed on Glenside wall removed and condemned by Jewish Community Council Norman Schueler

A Nazi swastika, outlawed under federal laws, has been removed from a heritage-listed wall behind a popular eastern suburbs supermarket.

A symbol of hate outlawed in Australia that was sprayed on a heritage-listed brick wall behind a popular supermarket in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs has been removed less than 24 hours after it appeared.

A swastika was painted on a brick wall at the end of Chessington Ave in Glenside overnight Tuesday, and reported to the council and police on Wednesday.

The swastika is largely identified as a symbol of hate used by Adolf Hitler as the centrepiece of the Nazi flag and white supremacy.

It is a criminal offence to intentionally display a symbol of Nazi ideology in a public place or in public view, after federal laws outlawing it were enacted in January this year.

The state government has introduced its own laws in parliament prohibiting the offensive symbol but it is yet to be passed.

The symbol appeared on the wall overnight Tuesday, and was removed entirely by Wednesday afternoon.

Jewish Community Council of SA government and public liaison Norman Schueler condemns the Nazi swastika graffiti on Chessington Ave behind Frewville Foodland. Picture: Tara Miko

But its appearance has prompted a new call for the state government to finalise its legislation banning swastikas or Nazi salutes in public.

Jewish Community Council of South Australia government and public liaison Norman Schueler condemned the vandalism in the public space.

“It just adds to the lawlessness taking place in Australia since October 7,” he said.

“On October 9, the Jews in Sydney were displaced by Palestinian protesters by their sheer numbers and the ineptitude of New South Wales police.

“Our government is continuing to fund terrorists.

“So that is to say we are not really surprised to see the Swastika has been painted.”

Mr Schueler said he applauded the state government’s move to ban hate symbols and acts in South Australia.

“But we would really like them to hurry up and finalise the legislation,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Attorney-General Kyam Maher said the Bill would impose “tough new penalties on those who seek to promote this abhorrent ideology” and give police powers to remove the prohibited symbols.

“We know the vast majority of South Australians would agree that this graffiti is absolutely appalling,” the spokeswoman said.

“We have seen increased activity from the neo-Nazi movement around the country which is totally unacceptable.

“These laws send a clear message that the use of these most widely recognised symbols of hate, violence, and intolerance, to incite division in the community, has no place in South Australia.

“Importantly, the Federal Government has also passed laws that ban the display of Nazi symbols.”

SA Police said it was aware of the graffiti, but did not comment on what action it would be taking.