PM demands more action on Nazi chants after ‘stuff-up’
Scenes of neo-Nazis chanting outside a state parliament have prompted the prime minister to call for more action to outlaw Nazi chants.
Anthony Albanese
Anthony Albanese is backing calls for changes to hate speech after dozens of black-uniformed men shouted racist Nazi-inspired slogans in another fascist gathering.
The prime minister joined the chorus of condemnation of some 60 demonstrators linked to the Nationalist Socialist Network who assembled outside NSW parliament on Saturday.
They shouted Nazi slogans and unfurled a large banner with the slogan “Abolish the Jewish Lobby”.
“Free speech is not about the right to vilify and to engage in anti-Semitic behaviour and to encourage hatred and division and violence, which is where this all leads,” Mr Albanese told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
“This rise of people openly identifying as Nazis has no place in Australia.”
Premier Chris Minns said he would aim to legislate new laws cracking down on hate speech in the coming weeks after attendees at the rally chanted “blood and honour”, which is a Hitler youth slogan.
“We need to draw bigger, bolder, bright lines between hate speech and free speech so that those scenes are not repeated,” he told reporters on Monday.
“It’s illegal to have Nazi symbols in NSW but not the Nazi speeches or Nazi slogans.”
Federal parliament in February mandated courts jail anyone displaying a Nazi symbol for at least a year and for up to five.
Mr Albanese also criticised the NSW protest permit system after police were given a week’s notice about the neo-Nazi rally but decided against taking it to court.
“The fact that these Nazis in NSW notified the police and were essentially given permission to conduct such a hateful activity is completely unacceptable,” the prime minister said.
Assistant NSW Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell reportedly apologised to newly installed Commissioner Mal Lanyon for not informing him of the protest, deeming it an oversight on his part.
“In hindsight, the nature of the ‘White Australia’ group is of such political interest and community interest to our organisation, that I should’ve advised the commissioner that this protest was taking place,” he told the Daily Telegraph.
Police sought legal advice about a potential court challenge but were told it would likely fail.
The communication breakdown had been described by federal MP Allegra Spender and Liberal state MP Kellie Sloane, both targets of violent sexual threats on social media from neo-Nazis, as a “complete stuff-up”.
Wholly predictable! Our opponents read the tea leaves, Surely the PM cannot duck responsibility. He and Senator Wong are patently the closest to being anti-semitic as a non-antisemite could be and not be antisemitic.
All our leaders do is bleat thinking articles blows this away. Historically, Muslims recoil from powerful and assertive response. We are weak. I am not advocating physical action. I have been advocating unity of our organisations(at least cuts out mixed messages and better marshalling our resources) and litigation by us, not governments. They are compromised by balancing opposing claims and party politics. And get feet on the street.
Not the ‘chants’ are so important. Not many stand around to listen or care what these people spout forth. It is the banners which are always there to be seen and in all the photos.
Inciteful ofhate and violence which should be removed by police !