NSW to introduce ban on Nazi flags and swastikas as Treasurer’s poster defaced

Two federal candidates for a Victorian seat have had their posters vandalised with swastikas. It comes as NSW proposes to jail people who display Nazi symbols.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has called out “obscene” vandalism after one of his local campaign posters was defaced with a swastika.

The Nazi symbol was scrawled in black marker onto Mr Frydenberg’s forehead on the Member for Kooyong poster.
“Vandalism is a crime. This kind of vandalism is obscene,” he wrote, posting the image to Twitter.

“It doesn’t matter which political group is on the receiving end, it’s just not on. Our community deserves better.

“Swastikas are a reminder of a dark past & it’s our collective duty to say ‘Never Again.’.”

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg posted a video of his vandalised election poster to social media.

Two days earlier Dr Monique Ryan, who is running as an independent in the same seat of Kooyong, similarly had a poster of her face vandalised.
“There’s no place for hatred in politics. The odd black tooth, sure ... but not hatred,” she also posted to Twitter.

“We’re better than this.”

The disturbing acts of vandalism come as a plan is announced to make publicly displaying swastikas and other Nazi symbols in NSW punishable by a $5500 fine or six months’ jail time or both, under a proposed bill expected to pass NSW Parliament with bipartisan support.

NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman announced the bill on Monday amid a rise in the activities of far-right groups both online and in-person around the country.

Victorian parliament banned the display of swastikas last year. In NSW in 2020, 31 instances of Nazi flags being flown across the state were recorded, including across the street from Newtown Synagogue and from a water tower in Wagga Wagga.

Mr Speakman said the law was in line with community expectations that hateful conduct was unacceptable.

“The NSW Government recognises that the public display of Nazi symbols is generally considered abhorrent, except in very limited circumstances such as for religious purposes, and causes profound offence and distress,” he said.

NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman said it would seek to ban swastikas and flags. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

The introduction of the government’s bill to Parliament comes after Labor’s police and counter terrorism spokesman Walt Secord introduced his own bill last year. The government referred that to a parliamentary committee which supported the introduction of laws banning the display of the symbols prompting the government to introduce its own version — something Mr Secord supported.

Mr Secord said: “I cautiously welcome the announcement that the Perrottet Government will introduce its own bill. I accept – in good faith – their assurances – that they genuinely want to proceed with the aims of the bill.”

Labor’s Walt Secord originally introduced his bill to ban Nazi symbols in October last year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Darren Bark said the laws were needed to stop the symbols being used to propagate hate for holocaust survivors and those who fought the Nazis in World War II.

“Nazi symbols are also being used by right-wing extremists both in-person and online, to embolden and recruit those to their cause.”

Hindu Council of Australia National vice president Surinder Jain said because of the resemblance between the Sacred Swastika and the Nazi swastika, Hindu communities had not been able to display their Sacred icon in public for fear of persecution — something he hoped to change.

“This important legislation exempts the use of the sacred icon of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist Swastika and it is hoped that community education on the differences between the Swastika and (the Nazi version called a) Hakenkreuz will help release the sacred icon of Swastika from its self-imposed indoor prison,” he said.