Australia to introduce national ban on Nazi symbols in effort to crack down on far-right groups

[Social Media]

Sydney

 

Australia has announced it will introduce a national ban on Nazi symbols, in an effort to crack down on far-right groups.

Public displays of the swastika or SS symbols will be punishable by up to a year in prison. However the new laws will not cover the Nazi salute.

Nazi symbols are already banned in many states, but this means they won't be allowed anywhere, the government says.

The move comes amid a resurgence in far-right activity.

In March, a group of neo-Nazis appeared at a rally in Melbourne hosted by Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull - who is known for her opposition to transgender rights - and performed Nazi salutes on the steps of the Victorian Parliament.

Ms Keen-Minshull denied any connection to the group, but the event triggered a political backlash with calls for greater efforts to tackle displays of Nazi regalia.

[Hanaguma]

What a terrible idea.   Are Australians really so delicate that the mere sight of a historical symbol will give them the vapors?  I think they are stronger than that.  Better to let these cranks and idiots in public and ridicule them rather than drive them underground.

[LosLobo]

 

1 hour ago, Hanaguma said:

What a terrible idea.   Are Australians really so delicate that the mere sight of a historical symbol will give them the vapors?  I think they are stronger than that.  Better to let these cranks and idiots in public and ridicule them rather than drive them underground.

I suggest delicacy and strength have little to do with it.

 

Possibly, its because they can see the damage and division that other countries are suffering by the tolerance, acceptance and embrace of far right-wing ideologies.

 

Australia's gun control legislation also demonstrates their affirmative stand against violence and the necessity to protect the well-being of their citizens.

.

[Hanaguma]

10 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

 

I suggest delicacy and strength have little to do with it.

 

Possibly, its because they can see the damage and division that other countries are suffering by the tolerance, acceptance and embrace of far right-wing ideologies.

 

Australia's gun control legislation also demonstrates their affirmative stand against violence and the necessity to protect the well-being of their citizens.

.

...and how about far left wing ideologies? They going to ban the hammer and sickle soon? Or pictures of Mao or Che Guevara?

 

Tolerance is one of the cornerstones of a diverse and free society. A couple morons waving the flags of a defeated nation won't have any influence at all. Just laugh at them and ignore them. By giving them a grievance you only make them feel persecuted.

[simple1]

2 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

...and how about far left wing ideologies? They going to ban the hammer and sickle soon? Or pictures of Mao or Che Guevara?

 

Tolerance is one of the cornerstones of a diverse and free society. A couple morons waving the flags of a defeated nation won't have any influence at all. Just laugh at them and ignore them. By giving them a grievance you only make them feel persecuted.

Unfortunately you're incorrect. There some neo Nazi groups in Australia who create problems.. One assumes you're aware that Western intelligence agencies, including Australia, have identified far right groups as one of the current  primary threats.

 

BTW the Australian Constitution does not explicitly protect "Free Speech".

[Hanaguma]

6 minutes ago, simple1 said:

Unfortunately you're incorrect. There some neo Nazi groups in Australia who create problems.. One assumes you're aware that Western intelligence agencies, including Australia, have identified far right groups as one of the current  primary threats.

 

BTW the Australian Constitution does not explicitly protect "Free Speech".

More the pity that the constitution does not do that. Sadly few countries do. 

 

But banning public display of symbols will do nothing to curtail the activities of these idiots. Just make them feel more outraged and feed their conspiracy theory nonsense.  The only way to fight a bad idea is with a better one. Don't add fuel to the fire by giving them any reason to feel hard done by, especially by the government. 

Plus the law also bans the private sale of this kind of thing, for whatever the reason. So if collector A wants to sell his old German flag to collector B, he is breaking the law.  So not just a speech issue, but one of business as well.

[Tug]

2 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

What a terrible idea.   Are Australians really so delicate that the mere sight of a historical symbol will give them the vapors?  I think they are stronger than that.  Better to let these cranks and idiots in public and ridicule them rather than drive them underground.

Catching any fish?

[LosLobo]

31 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

More the pity that the constitution does not do that. Sadly few countries do. 

 

But banning public display of symbols will do nothing to curtail the activities of these idiots. Just make them feel more outraged and feed their conspiracy theory nonsense.  The only way to fight a bad idea is with a better one. Don't add fuel to the fire by giving them any reason to feel hard done by, especially by the government. 

Plus the law also bans the private sale of this kind of thing, for whatever the reason. So if collector A wants to sell his old German flag to collector B, he is breaking the law.  So not just a speech issue, but one of business as well.

Perhaps pity and sadness for Australians is not necessary!

 

'We have the right to say what we want — to give our opinions, advertise, and protest — but within limits. we aren’t allowed to say fighting words, slander another person’s name, cause a panic, or incite violence, for example'.

 

Free speech doesn't mean you can say whatever you want, wherever. Here's how to explain this to kids (theconversation.com)

 

The amount of activity and conspiracy nonsense with these groups in US would not suggest that your laissez- faire tolerance approach has been that successful.

 

Edited June 8, 2023 by LosLobo

[Hanaguma]

49 minutes ago, Tug said:

Catching any fish?

Ask the OP, not me.

[Tug]

1 minute ago, Hanaguma said:

Ask the OP, not me.

Deflection much?

[Hanaguma]

47 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

Perhaps pity and sadness for Australians is not necessary!

 

'We have the right to say what we want — to give our opinions, advertise, and protest — but within limits. we aren’t allowed to say fighting words, slander another person’s name, cause a panic, or incite violence, for example'.

 

Free speech doesn't mean you can say whatever you want, wherever. Here's how to explain this to kids (theconversation.com)

 

The amount of activity and conspiracy nonsense with these groups in US would not suggest that your laissez- faire tolerance approach has been that successful.

 

Those specific limits are also limits in most countries. But they do not apply to the new law. This legislation creates a talismanic kind of fear in certain articles that they dont deserve.   I could be just walking down the street quietly, wearing my SS t-shirt, and be arrested.  For wearing a t-shirt.  

 

I am always wary of bringing the power of the State against people for their thoughts, however repugnant. You can't kill an idea by removing its trappings. 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

...and how about far left wing ideologies? They going to ban the hammer and sickle soon? Or pictures of Mao or Che Guevara?

 

Tolerance is one of the cornerstones of a diverse and free society. A couple morons waving the flags of a defeated nation won't have any influence at all. Just laugh at them and ignore them. By giving them a grievance you only make them feel persecuted.

Tolerance for Nazi symbology?!

 

It’s not a flag of a defeated nation, it’s the symbology of an ideology of hatred, which has definitely not been defeated.

 

If you want to wear a Nazi Swastika don’t go to Australia.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

27 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

Those specific limits are also limits in most countries. But they do not apply to the new law. This legislation creates a talismanic kind of fear in certain articles that they dont deserve.   I could be just walking down the street quietly, wearing my SS t-shirt, and be arrested.  For wearing a t-shirt.  

 

I am always wary of bringing the power of the State against people for their thoughts, however repugnant. You can't kill an idea by removing its trappings. 

Arguing “I am always wary of bringing the power of the State against people for their thoughts, however repugnant. You can't kill an idea by removing its trappings.” In defense of the Nazi Swastika.

 

It takes a certain kind of ignorance to take such a position.

 

The willful type.

[Hanaguma]

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Tolerance for Nazi symbology?!

 

It’s not a flag of a defeated nation, it’s the symbology of an ideology of hatred, which has definitely not been defeated.

 

If you want to wear a Nazi Swastika don’t go to Australia.

 

 

 

6 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Tolerance for Nazi symbology?!

 

It’s not a flag of a defeated nation, it’s the symbology of an ideology of hatred, which has definitely not been defeated.

 

If you want to wear a Nazi Swastika don’t go to Australia.

 

 

Would you say the same for symbols of communism? Al Qaeda?  Any number of hate groups in the world.  

 

I would say that Naziism is definitely defeated. You could take every neoNazi in Australia and they wouldn't even fill a minor league soccer stadium.  Any you won't do them any harm by this law either.  

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, Hanaguma said:

 

Would you say the same for symbols of communism? Al Qaeda?  Any number of hate groups in the world.  

 

I would say that Naziism is definitely defeated. You could take every neoNazi in Australia and they wouldn't even fill a minor league soccer stadium.  Any you won't do them any harm by this law either.  

Since when has communism been a ‘hate group’?

 

Al Qaeda is a terrorist organization, I think you’ll find parading any of their ideas in public gets a response from law enforcement, perhaps even national security.

[Hanaguma]

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Since when has communism been a ‘hate group’?

 

Al Qaeda is a terrorist organization, I think you’ll find parading any of their ideas in public gets a response from law enforcement, perhaps even national security.

This article says the ISIS flag has been displayed more than 300 times in New South Wales alone.

 

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/islamic-state-flag-flown-over-300-times-in-nsw-in-last-six-years-20211130-p59dje.html

 

and with no penalty. 

 

And communism has been a hate group since its inception. Ask the 100 million who died as a result.  The hammer and sickle are just as repugnant as the swastika. 

 

Nah, if you want to emasculate and lessen the impact of hate groups, the way to do so is not legal.  Laugh at them, ridicule them, ignore them, defeat their ideas in the court of public opinion. But don't give them the 'cool factor' of being outlaws. 

[Chomper Higgot]

4 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

This article says the ISIS flag has been displayed more than 300 times in New South Wales alone.

 

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/islamic-state-flag-flown-over-300-times-in-nsw-in-last-six-years-20211130-p59dje.html

 

and with no penalty. 

 

And communism has been a hate group since its inception. Ask the 100 million who died as a result.  The hammer and sickle are just as repugnant as the swastika. 

 

Nah, if you want to emasculate and lessen the impact of hate groups, the way to do so is not legal.  Laugh at them, ridicule them, ignore them, defeat their ideas in the court of public opinion. But don't give them the 'cool factor' of being outlaws. 

I’d ban the ISIS flag too.

 

Communism isn’t a hate group, stop embarrassing yourself.

 

 

Edited June 8, 2023 by Chomper Higgot

[LosLobo]

50 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

Those specific limits are also limits in most countries. But they do not apply to the new law. This legislation creates a talismanic kind of fear in certain articles that they dont deserve.   I could be just walking down the street quietly, wearing my SS t-shirt, and be arrested.  For wearing a t-shirt.  

 

I am always wary of bringing the power of the State against people for their thoughts, however repugnant. You can't kill an idea by removing its trappings. 

Did I waste my time posting a reference to support my claims?

 

Where is Australia 'bringing the power of the State against people for their thoughts' ?

 

Under the new law this has not changed :

'In Australia, freedom of opinion gives us the right to hold a belief without interference, exception or restriction. We have the right to believe anything we want. We can believe the earth is flat or that alien cabals rule the world.'

 

[Hanaguma]

1 minute ago, LosLobo said:

Did I waste my time posting a reference to support my claims?

 

Where is Australia 'bringing the power of the State against people for their thoughts' ?

 

Under the new law this has not changed :

'In Australia, freedom of opinion gives us the right to hold a belief without interference, exception or restriction. We have the right to believe anything we want. We can believe the earth is flat or that alien cabals rule the world.'

 

Actually it is worse than that. It is bringing the power of the State to bear on people for their choice of attire or for what they carry peacefully. 

[Hanaguma]

7 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I’d ban the ISIS flag too.

 

 

Somehow I am not surprised.  

 

So you would be OK with banning symbols of the Soviet Union as well? A seriously hate filled regime that killed millions of innocent people. Or Chairman Mao, another monster responsible for tens of millions of deaths. 

 

I am curious where your pruning of symbols from public view would end. 

[Neeranam]

Silly country. The will force all the Nazis to come to Thailand, like they did when all those bikies came here after the couldn't wear their sill colours in Oz. 

So much for freedom of speech.

[onthedarkside]

A twitter screen grab with no link removed

[Jingthing]

5 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

What a terrible idea.   Are Australians really so delicate that the mere sight of a historical symbol will give them the vapors?  I think they are stronger than that.  Better to let these cranks and idiots in public and ridicule them rather than drive them underground.

Or as U.S. southerners might say, an "Aryan heritage" symbol.

It wasn't WW2. It was the war of Jewish aggression.

[Neeranam]

There is nothing wrong with the 'swatika', it means 'auspicious thing' in Sanskrit, it's the reason Thais say 'sawatdee' -  they share the same root.

Google 'Phraya Uppakit' who coined the phrase, from Sanskrit 90 years ago. 

 

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, Hanaguma said:

Somehow I am not surprised.  

 

So you would be OK with banning symbols of the Soviet Union as well? A seriously hate filled regime that killed millions of innocent people. Or Chairman Mao, another monster responsible for tens of millions of deaths. 

 

I am curious where your pruning of symbols from public view would end. 

Communism is not a hate group, give it up already.

 

The Soviet Union did kill millions of Nazis, perhaps that’s your gripe?!

[Hanaguma]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

Communism is not a hate group, give it up already.

 

The Soviet Union did kill millions of Nazis, perhaps that’s your gripe?!

Killed millions of Germans, anyway. Definitely killed millions MORE of their own citizens. 

 

So do you want to ban Soviet symbology too?

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, Hanaguma said:

Killed millions of Germans, anyway. Definitely killed millions MORE of their own citizens. 

 

So do you want to ban Soviet symbology too?

No, not a hate group.

[Hanaguma]

6 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

No, not a hate group.

Really? Tell that to the Ukranian victims of the famines in the 1930s. A genocide by starvation. 

[Chomper Higgot]

20 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

Really? Tell that to the Ukranian victims of the famines in the 1930s. A genocide by starvation. 

Still not a hate group.

 

And still off topic whataboutary.

 

Stick to defending Nazi symbology, it’s at least kind of on topic.