Tasmanian Labor is welcomes the fact that the Liberal Government will support our call from earlier in the week to ban the Nazi salute.
I called for it on Sunday after the revolting scenes in Victoria and our leader Rebecca White reiterated our commitment yesterday on radio.
The Bill, as it is currently drafted, does not go far enough to protect Tasmanians from hate related crime.
It should include the banning of physical gestures, like the Nazi salute, and we would have moved an amendment to include banning it.
There is no place in Tasmania for this abhorrent behaviour that causes division within our community.
The scenes that unfolded on the steps of the Victorian Parliament are deeply worrying. Equally worrying is that the guest speaker from that event will be speaking on Tasmania’s parliament lawns today.
Tasmania Labor condemns neo-Nazi behaviour and our laws need to be strengthened to protect Tasmanians.
In addition to banning the Nazi salute the government must strengthen Tasmania’s laws to protect people from hate crimes motivated by other forms of hatred including transphobia and homophobia.
Released March 21, 2023