Coalition introduces reforms to penalise anti-Semitism, protests

People convicted of displaying Nazi symbols, terrorist insignia or wearing facial coverings at protests would face harsher penalties under a NSW Coalition plan to “plug holes’ it sees in existing reforms.

Offenders convicted of displaying Nazi symbols or terrorist insignia would face standard non-parole periods of 18 months in prison under a ­Coalition bid to crack down on hate crimes in NSW.

The bill, introduced to parliament by NSW Opposition legal affairs spokesman Alister Henskens, would amend sentencing guidelines to ensure jail time for anti-Semitic offenders. The sentence would not be mandatory, but judges would need to explain themselves if they imposed a lighter punishment.

Mr Henskens announced the private member’s bill yesterday as the Minns government introduced its own legislation to crack down on anti-Semitic attacks.

“We will introduce two private member’s bills to plug holes (in the government’s bill) and have a much stronger response to the scourge of anti-Semitism,” he said.

Opposition legal affairs spokesman Alister Henskens said there were “significant holes” in the government’s reforms. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Mr Henskens said the bill would create a new offence banning the display of symbols linked to terrorist organisations, including Nazi symbols.

Under the bill, protesters would also be banned from wearing facial disguises unless for religious reasons, with police given greater powers to remove coverings and to arrest individuals who don’t comply.

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

The bills come after an escalation of anti-Semitic attacks across the state. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

A new Protest Recovery Cost rule would further tighten rules on public protests by granting organisers “three free protests a year” before they are slugged with policing costs.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said “repeat protest organisers” would be required to foot the bill for police if they held multiple rallies for the same cause within 12 months.

Mr Speakman did not rule out pushing the reforms through parliament as amendments to the government’s bill.

Despite their different polices, Mr Speakman and Premier Chris Minns were united in their condemnation of anti-Semitism in parliament yesterday. “(We need to) end this shameful chapter in our state’s history,” Mr Minns said

Originally published as Coalition introduces reforms to penalise anti-Semitism, protests