Swastika ban recommended amid fears hate crime is on the rise

Wearing or displaying Nazi symbols could soon be banned, after an inquiry into anti-vilification protections recommended stronger laws.

Nazi flags could soon be banned from being displayed in Victoria.

Displaying the swastika could soon be banned in Victoria after a parliamentary committee recommended making it a criminal offence along with other Nazi symbols.

An inquiry into anti-vilification protections has examined whether the state’s current laws were strong enough after a recent spate of incidents in which the swastika was displayed or graffitied in public places.

It recommended that the public display of Nazi symbolism be banned to address the problem amid concerns hate crime was on the rise.

The inquiry has also called for anti-vilification legislation to be extended to cover other areas outside of religion and race, such as sexual orientation and disability.

Committee Chair Natalie Suleyman said Victoria currently had racial and religious tolerance laws in place to protect against vilification.

“But there’s a question over its ability to address the rising problem of hate crime in Victoria, especially for First Nations, multicultural and multi faith groups, women, LGBTIQ+, people with a disability and other minority groups,” she said.

“We heard evidence of increased racial threats and vilification throughout the COVID‑19 pandemic in 2020, particularly directed at Asian communities in Victoria, in addition to the Jewish community,” Ms Suleyman said.

“Addressing the causes of discrimination, prejudice and hatred towards minority groups is complex, and efforts to do so in the past have often fallen short.

“It is essential for the Victorian Government to implement legislative reform and to also develop complementary prevention-based strategies to reduce and eliminate vilification in Victoria.”

An inquiry was launched after several incidences of swastikas being displayed in public. Picture: Supplied.

Opposition police and community safety spokesman David Southwick welcomed the proposal to ban the swastika.

“After a long battle we are one step closer to seeing a ban on the Nazi swastika, a universal symbol of hate which has no place in our proudly multicultural state of Victoria,” he said.

“Every Victorian deserves to go about their daily lives free from the spectre of fear, intolerance or hate and the time to ban the swastika is now.”

The committee has recommended anti vilification laws be extended to apply to gender identity and sexual orientation, disability and HIV status.

It also said it should be easier to prove vilification that can be viewed as incitement and for clear laws on vilification that causes harm.

This would make it easier for complaints to be held up when they are made.

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission would also be given more enforcement powers.

Premier Daniel Andrews said he would await the report findings.

“My views on anti Semitic behaviour are very well known,” he said.

“Once again I think it’s good to know where, exactly where I stand on those issues. I want to see the report to be tabled this morning.

“It will be a very important piece of work for us to look at, and if we have to go further, then we’ll look at that as cabinet and as a government.”