Longreach man charged under hate crime laws for allegedly displaying offensive flag

An Outback Queensland man has been charged under hate crime laws for allegedly displaying a flag featuring offensive racial vilification.

The man is expected to appear in court in Longreach in March.

Detectives have charged a Longreach man for allegedly displaying a flag featuring offensive racial vilification under hate crime laws.

Police went to an address in Falcon St on Monday and seized the flag. The man has been charged with displaying a prohibited symbol.

He has been issued a notice to appear before Longreach Magistrates Court on March 19.

Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski last month said officers were on high alert for anti-Semitism and hate crimes across the state.

Mr Gollschewski said recent attacks in NSW and Victoria could “easily start to happen in our own state”.

“Not only are we focusing on this from a Queensland perspective, we are focusing on this from a national perspective,” he told 4BC radio.

“All of our abilities whether it’s counter-terrorism, organised crime or our frontline police will be on the ball about this.

“We have got very clear laws that deal with vilification and hate crimes in this state … we have used them once so far for a person displaying those kinds of symbols.”

In December police charged a man over an alleged anti-Semitic sign displayed in the window of a Morningside home.

Police executed a search warrant at a Bundara St residence in Morningside and seized the sign – a flashing, electronic sign that was allegedly displayed in the window of the man’s home – a computer and a phone.

He has been charged with one count of serious racial, religious, sexuality, or gender identity vilification, and one count of serious assault and obstructing police.