Australia to ban Nazi salutes in bid to combat antisemitism surge

Australia will ban people from making the Nazi salute in public in a bid to crackdown on antisemitism.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced plans to make it a criminal offence for people to perform the act.

"The amendments will ensure that no one will be allowed to glorify or profit from acts and symbols which celebrate the Nazis and their evil ideology," Mr Dreyfus said in a statement.

"There is absolutely no place in Australia for hatred, violence and antisemitism."

The government will also ban the public display of symbols of proscribed terrorist organisations including Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic State.

The amendments will be introduced to parliament on Wednesday.

Shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash said the move to ban the Nazi salute was “long overdue”.

“It should have been done back in March and some of the appalling displays we have seen since the horrificattacks of October 7 in Israel have only highlighted how important it is,’’ Senator Cash said.

It comes after hundreds of prominent Australians – including News Corp chairman Lachlan Murdoch and businessman Kerry Stokes - signed an open letter denouncing antisemitism amid a spike in hate crimes.

"We are leaders from diverse industries and professions across Australia. We cherish the Australianway of life; one which celebrates acceptance, cultural diversity and the values of a modern tolerant democracy," the letter reads.

It cited a 482 per cent surge in antisemitic incidents across Australia in the last seven weeks.