A rise in anti-Semitism in Australia spurred by the ongoing Israeli–Hamas war has led to a ban by the federal government on the selling and promoting of Nazi symbols and the use of Nazi salutes.
The new laws were announced by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus in response to reports of an upsurge in anti-Semitic incidents since the war started on October 7 last year.
Coming into effect from yesterday, January 8, acts such as publically performing the Nazi salute or the display of the Nazi swastika or the symbol of the Schutzstaffel (SS) are now illegal, as is the sale of any war memorabilia adorned with emblems.
Penalties for displaying a Nazi symbol or gesture in public in Victoria include fines of up to $23,000 (US $15,000) and/or prison time of up to 12 months.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry reports that there has been a six-fold increase in anti-Semitic incidents this year, which includes more incidents since the war began than for all of last year.
The use of the swastika within Hinduism and Buddhism would not be affected by the ban.
Swastikas are used by Hindus to represent the four directions. When facing right, the symbol represents the evolution of the universe, and when facing left the involution of the universe.
Also excluded from prosecution are private collectors of World War II souvenirs, but the sale of items is now banned completely.
Australia has a lot bigger problem with Islamic extremists and their supporters than NZ does, so hopefully such knee-jerk reaction will be seen as unnecssary here.