Shadow Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism Walt Secord today cautiously welcomed the Perrottet Government’s April 1 announcement that it will introduce its own bill to criminalise the display of Nazi symbols in NSW.

Mr Secord has been campaigning to criminalise the display of Nazi symbols and last October, he introduced the Crimes Amendment (Display of Nazi Symbols) Bill 2021:  Legislative Council Hansard – 13 October 2021 – Proof (nsw.gov.au)

Shortly afterwards, the Perrottet Government referred the bill to the Standing Committee on Social Issues for further examination. Its report into the bill was released in February – recommending the bill proceed with amendments:  Report (nsw.gov.au)

Mr Secord said: “I cautiously welcome the announcement that the Perrottet Government will introduce its own bill. I accept – in good faith – their assurances – that they genuinely want to proceed with the aims of the bill.

“This month, we moved another step closer to banning the public display of Nazi symbols.”

However, Mr Secord warned that if this was a delaying tactic, he would put his bill to the Parliament. “If the Attorney-General Mark Speakman does not act by June, I will put my bill to the Legislative Council for a vote – and proceed. I note that there is strong support from the cross-bench.”

“Sadly, we are seeing a surge in far right-wing activity in Australia and overseas. Put simply, I want to see the public display of Nazi symbols banned in NSW.

“It is a symbol of hate and genocide – and to see it on New South Wales streets in marches or flying from a flag pole is deeply offensive.”

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has reported a 35 per cent increase in anti-Semitic activity in Australia in its annual report.

In 2020, there are 31 documented cases of Nazi flags being flown across New South Wales, including across the street from Newtown Synagogue and from a water tower in Wagga Wagga.

(Under the proposed Secord legislation, the maximum penalty for an individual flouting the ban would be a $5,500 fine or imprisonment for six months or both. There are specific exceptions for the Hindu symbol and for using the Nazi swastika, or Hakenkreuz, for artistic or academic purposes.)

Mr Secord praised the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and the Hindu Council of Australia for working together to protect both communities and making a “landmark” joint submission to the inquiry.