Australia - August 2023

Following neo-Nazi protests earlier this year, Tasmania became the first Australian state to pass a law on 16 August to outlaw the display or performance of Nazi salutes and symbols. This legislation, set to take effect later this year, imposes hefty fines and up to a three-month prison term for first-time offenders. Minister of Justice Elise Archer acknowledges that such symbols and gestures "promote hate against not just Jewish people but also other minority groups." The bill includes exceptions to protect the swastikas use for religious and educational purposes unrelated to Nazi ideology. Simultaneously, Victoria, which banned the Nazi symbol last year, is progressing with a salute ban. Leading Jewish organizations have hailed Tasmania's move, hoping it encourages the federal government (currently considering a proposal to ban a few specific symbols nationwide) to follow suit.

Update: On 9 January 2024, Australia outlawed Nazi salutes and symbols associated with terror groups at the federal level.  

Sources: Australian Associated Press, Deutsche Welle, The Sydney Morning Herald, SBS News, Reuters, Canberra Times