Australia is set to ban the public display and sale of Nazi symbols.

New legislation, part of the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Prohibited Hate Symbols and Other Measures) Bill, will introduce criminal offences that can result in up to 12 months imprisonment for those who violate the ban.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says there is a need to address the growing use of Nazi symbols by neo-Nazi and far-right groups. 

The ban will cover flags, armbands, clothing, insignia, and even online use of symbols designed to promote Nazi ideology. 

However, the government has decided against banning the use of the Nazi salute in public, as it believes such restrictions are better handled under state and territory law.

The new legislation will not infringe upon the use of swastikas as religious symbols in faiths such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. 

Dreyfus made it clear that the ban is intended to target symbols that glorify the Holocaust and celebrate the Nazis' evil ideology. 

“There is no place in Australia for symbols that glorify the horrors of the Holocaust, and we will no longer allow people to profit from the display and sale of items which celebrate the Nazis and their evil ideology,” he said. 

The announcement was welcomed by experts studying the rise of far-right extremism in the country. 

Deakin University researcher Dr Josh Roose commended the ban, highlighting the role of Nazi symbolism in recruitment efforts by these extremist groups. 

He called for a broader approach, including addressing socioeconomic inequalities and the grievances of marginalised communities.

The ban on Nazi symbols has been a long-awaited development for groups targeted by Nazis, particularly the Jewish community. 

Dvir Abramovich, chair of the Anti-Defamation Council, expressed relief and satisfaction with the impending legislation. He has been campaigning for such bans for six years, aiming to protect Holocaust survivors who have witnessed the distressing resurgence of public displays by white supremacists.