Response to Proposed Criminal Code Amendment (Prohibition of Nazi Symbols) Bill 2023

This submission is in response to the proposed Criminal Code Amendment (Prohibition of Nazi Symbols) Bill 2023. The submission supports the ban on the public display of Nazi symbols, recognising the harm and division these symbols cause, particularly for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. MYAN highlights the significance of addressing far-right extremism and proposes recommendations to enhance the Bill, including provisions for exemptions for religious and educational uses, expanding the scope to include other hate symbols, and strengthening laws against hate crimes and vilification. The submission advocates for a comprehensive approach to combating the use of symbols that incite hate and violence in Australia.