Despite the introduction of a ban on Nazi symbols in 2022, Victoria and the rest of the country have seen a marked rise in public activity from extreme far-right groups. The public display of the Nazi salute in March 2023 on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne has been seen by many as an indication of the growing problem of the far right and evidence of the need for legislation to prevent harm being caused by the display of Nazi symbols and gestures. 

The Summary Offences Amendment (Nazi Salute Prohibition) Bill 2023 aims to expand upon the 2022 ban on the public display of the Nazi Hakenkreuz, or ‘hooked cross’ (also known as the ‘Nazi swastika’), to include other Nazi symbols and ban the display or performance of the Nazi salute in public.

This Bill Brief outlines the Bill and summarises the context and debates that have contributed to its development. The Victorian Parliament has also recently reviewed the state’s anti-vilification protections in an inquiry that found reform was needed to protect vulnerable communities. The brief also provides a jurisdictional comparison of similar laws being introduced and passed across the country relating to Nazi symbols and salutes.

The 2022 ban on Nazi symbols has been widely supported across the community and political spectrum, and many agree its expansion to include Nazi salutes will send a clear message to the far right that their targeting of vulnerable communities won’t be tolerated. However, some experts have raised concerns as to whether a ban on Nazi symbols and gestures will meet the rising threat of far-right violence and intimidation.