Display of Nazi Symbols Bill 2021
Rev Hon Fred Nile combats antisemitism in Australia
February 4, 2022
I am very honoured to be a Member of the NSW Parliament’s Social Issues Committee. This Committee serves as a mostly public forum for specialised evidence, testimony and witnesses to consult with members of Parliament on legislative matters.
This is a vital Committee.
The Social Issues Committee met yesterday to discuss the Display of Nazi Symbols Bill 2021, this will combat antisemitism by prohibiting:
“the public display of a symbol of, or associated with, the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, the Third Reich or Neo-Nazism (a Nazi symbol), except in certain circumstance.”
The Social Issues Committee were provided live video testimony from Australian Jewish leaders including Darren Bark CEO of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Dr Dvir Abramovich of the Anti-Defamation Commission and more. I raised concerns about a declining awareness of the horrors of the Holocaust and a growing Holocaust denier movement. I also supported the recommendations that the Holocaust and the historical facts of anti-Semitism be compulsory education in our Australian School Curriculum and for the committee to recommend it.
The Social Issues Committee published an online questionnaire asking for feedback from the people of New South Wales on this Bill. There has been overwhelmingly support and limited concerns, the concerns being solely focused on censorship concerns. The Bill provides protections for the use of the Swastika for non-hateful ways unrelated to the Third Reich and Neo-Nazis. I am pleased to see how strongly opposed our state is to the evil symbols of Nazism.
I moved a notice of motion in November last year to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism. This was moved as formal business but defeated by the Greens, this notion of motion will now be debated and a majority vote in the Legislative Council this month.
When this Bill comes before the NSW Legislative Council I will be proud to vote for it; I will urge my colleagues to do the same.
Yours faithfully,
Rev Hon Fred Nile MLC
CDP Parliamentary Leader
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