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Australia has introduced stringent laws banning the Nazi salute and symbols associated with terror groups in response to an uptick in antisemitic incidents after the Israel-Gaza war.

Under the new legislation, “publicly perform[ing] the Nazi salute or display[ing] the Nazi swastika or the double-sig rune associated with the Schutzstaffel (SS) paramilitary group” is now punishable by up to 12 months in prison. Attorney General Mark Dreyfus declared, “This is the first legislation of its kind and will ensure no one in Australia will be allowed to glorify or profit from acts and symbols that celebrate the Nazis and their evil ideology.”

In addition to Nazi symbols, the law also targets “symbols associated with prohibited terror organizations, such as Islamic State, Hamas or the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).” While the legislation is comprehensive, it does include exemptions for “academic, educational or artistic use,” ensuring that legitimate study and expression are not hindered.

According to officials, the urgency of this law came after a series of events, including a pro-Palestinian protest where individuals were reportedly heard shouting “gas the Jews,” and the arrest of three men for performing the Nazi salute outside the Jewish Museum of Australia. These incidents contributed to a surge in antisemitic activities, with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry reporting more anti-Jewish incidents in the last two months of the previous year than in the entire preceding twelve months.

Dreyfus emphasized the law’s importance, stating, “This is the first legislation of its kind and will ensure no one in Australia will be allowed to glorify or profit from acts and symbols that celebrate the Nazis and their evil ideology.”