Andrews government considers ban on public use of Nazi salute

The state government will consider outlawing public displays of the Nazi salute as outcry grows over use of the hate symbol.

The state government will consider outlawing the public display of the Nazi salute amid calls from holocaust survivors and a leading civil rights organisation for the offensive gesture to be outlawed.

It comes after a neo-Nazi group attempted to disrupt an Indigenous mourning ceremony at Coburg Town Hall on Australia Day.

The group of about 20 men, dressed in black clothes and masks, waved Australian flags and held banners that read “White Pride Australia”.

They performed the offensive Nazi salute before they dispersed when police arrived at the scene. Victoria Police said they would review body worn camera footage to determine if any offence has occurred.

Convicted neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell also performed the vile act outside of a Melbourne court moments after he avoided jail time for assaulting a Channel Nine security guard earlier this month.

“We’ve been clear there’s no place for this hateful ideology in Victoria. Vilification has no place in our community,” a government spokesperson said.

“The government will continue to monitor the use of hate symbols to consider whether further symbols should be prohibited.”

Jayne Josem, Sarah Saaroni, Dvir Abramovich, Abram Goldberg, Jack Leder on the steps of the Victorian parliament.

The Herald Sun has learnt that Attorney General Jacklyn Symes spoke with the chairman of the Anti-Defamation commission, Dr Dvir Abramovich, about banning the Nazi salute on Friday.

The leading Jewish-Australian civil rights organisation said “the terrifying symbol of Nazisim” has no place in society.

It called on the government to outlaw the salute in a joint statement released with the Melbourne Holocaust Museum to mark the annual day of commemoration for survivors on Friday.

“The Victorian government led the way in being the first Australian jurisdiction to ban the public display of the Nazi swastika and now is the time to right a wrong, to take the high moral ground and to close the lid on this sickening phenomenon,” the statement read.

“Let’s be clear: performing this salute is a call for murder, and for a Holocaust survivor, seeing it tears a hole in their heart and is as threatening as being held up with a gun.

“We owe it to the victims, the survivors, and to the diggers who valiantly fought and sacrificed their lives to vanquish the Third Reich to criminalise this hateful symbol of genocide.”

Convicted neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell performed the vile act outside of a Melbourne court Picture: Luis Ascui

Holocaust survivors said the salute brings back painful memories.

Abram Goldberg, who was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2013 for work with the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, said there was “no question” the salute should be banned.

“My blood starts to boil when I see the Nazi salute and it brings back the memory of 6 million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis,” he said.

“It should be banned. No question.”

Another holocaust survivor, Jack Leder, said the gesture must be immediately outlawed.

“These are thugs who are trying to intimidate and put fear into people,” he said.

“If they’re allowed to keep on doing this, it justifies it in the eyes of the public. There has to be a law to stop it.”

Victoria became the first Australian state to ban the public display of the Nazi swastika in June last year.

Those who publicly display the Nazi swastika face 12 months in prison or a $22,000 fine under the legislation.