State of Australia prohibits public displays of Nazi swastikas

• Victoria has become the first state in Australia to ban public display of Nazi swastikas.
• Fines of $22,000 Australian dollars ($15,213) and one year in prison for showing the Nazi swastika or Hakenkreuz.
• Concerns mount about the radicalization rate of local youth.

A state in Australia has become the first in the nation to implement a law prohibiting the public exhibition of Nazi swastikas, as concerns mount about the radicalization rate of local youth.

The Parliament of Victoria, Australia’s second-most populous state, has set fines of $22,000 Australian dollars ($15,213) and one year in prison for showing the Nazi swastika or Hakenkreuz.

Dvir Abramovich, chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, which combats antisemitism, stated on Wednesday that he expected New South Wales, the most populous state in Australia, and the states of Queensland and Tasmania to enact similar legislation in the near future.

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“What the bill does is to say to those forces of evil that are trying to break our spirit and instil fear that the law’s no longer on their side,”  he continued.

Five years ago, Abramovich launched a national campaign to ban the Nazi insignia.

In two weeks, the law will become official, and the prohibition will go into effect six months later, following a public education campaign.

In some religious and cultural circumstances, the law does not prohibit the wearing of swastikas.

A statement from the government of Victoria says that the swastika is an old and important symbol for Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, and other faiths.

Jaclyn Symes, Attorney General of Victoria, said she was pleased that the measure was enacted with opposition support.

“I’m glad to see that no matter what side of politics, we can agree that this vile behavior will not be tolerated in Victoria,” Symes added.

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Burgess said that kids as young as 13 were getting involved in radicalism that was based on both religion and philosophy.