Australian authorities announced on Monday that they will be banning the Nazi salute in the Victoria region. following far-right violence in Melbourne against a march for transgender rights.
Victoria’s regional attorney general Jaclyn Symes said she would propose expanding the law, which has banned Nazi swastika in the region since 2022 and provides for prison sentences, to also penalize Nazi salutes.
To be approved, the proposal must be ratified by the local parliament, with the regional government and the opposition already in favor of the reform.
On Saturday, between 20 and 30 Australian neo-Nazis gave the Nazi salute outside the regional parliament in central Melbourne, boycotting a peaceful march for transgender rights.
After the incidents, police arrested at least three people, including a woman who assaulted an officer.
“The behavior we witnessed was disgusting and cowardly. It is clear that this symbol has been used to incite hatred, not only against Jews, but also against our LGTBIQ+ community and other minority groups,” the attorney general condemned. .
In addition to the neo-Nazis, other small conservative groups also spoke out against transgender rights, including regional deputy Moira Deeming, who was expelled from the Liberal party on Sunday after participating in the protests.
In July 2022, Victoria, the country’s second most populous region, became the first Australian jurisdiction to ban the Nazi swastika.
Source: DN
