Three Sydney soccer fans will appear before court next month, charged under new NSW laws which outlaw the display of Nazi symbols and imagery. The incident took place during an Australia Cup final match between Macarthur FC and Sydney United 58 at CommBank Stadium last year. While many attendees of the game were seen making Nazi salutes and singing chants associated with far-right movements, the three men have been the only people formally accused of breaching the new laws.
The introduction of these laws into New South Wales is the latest in a series of moves by Australian jurisdictions to tackle the open display of hateful imagery. Victoria became the first jurisdiction to ban the public display of the Nazi swastika in early last year, and recently a move to ban the Nazi salute has also been proposed by the Victorian Premier following the use of it by members of the National Socialist Network at a protest outside state Parliament just a few days ago.
Nazi Tattoos
Queensland has moved to make it illegal to display Nazi swastika tattoos as part of a larger ban on hate symbols. It will join NSW in banning these tattoos, and will be followed by Western Australia and Tasmania who have also recently moved to ban such tattoos. Interestingly, Victoria excludes tattoos from its ban on public imagery – it was believed that it would be too difficult to enforce.
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The NSW offence is listed under the expansive Crimes Act 1900 and carries a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment or an $11,000 fine, or both, for an individual. Corporations caught breaching this law face a fine of up to $55,000. The law protects the use of Nazi imagery for educational and historical purposes, while also allowing the symbol to be used publicly in its original connection with Buddhist and Hindu religions.
If you have been charged with a crime by Police, get in touch with Brady and Associates Lawyers today.