A man has been charged in Victoria for allegedly performing the Nazi salute in Melbourne, Victoria.
He is the second to have been arrested over the new laws that passed the Victorian Parliament in October.
The man, 55, was also charged with alleged stalking and threats to kill on Nov. 16. This follows police attending a Melbourne home on Nov. 12 after a noise complaint.
“The 55-year-old Newport man has been charged with performing a Nazi gesture, stalking, and threats to kill,” the Victorian police said.
“He has been bailed to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 8 January 2024.”
Nazi Salute Legislation in Victoria
The Victorian Labor government fast-tracked legislation through Parliament in October to ban the Nazi salute.The Victorian Liberal Party also supported the legislation, although there were some concerns raised about the Bill.
At the time the Bill was legislated in Parliament, libertarian-leaning MP David Limbrick said, “History rarely sides with the censors.”
“This bill, the way it’s come before this Parliament as a knee-jerk response, I think is ill-considered, counter-productive, and frankly dangerous,” Mr. Limbrick said.
He said in the current climate, there was a tendency to smear anyone that disagreed with them as a “Nazi” and that included the government.
There is an exemption if the Nazi gesture was performed for “genuine academic, artistic, educational, or scientific purpose.”
Exceptions also apply for “law enforcement” or administration of justice purposes, the government said.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, in a social media post on Oct. 17, said, “I wish making these new laws wasn’t necessary, but we'll always do what we need to do to tackle hatred, antisemitism, and racism.”
“The ban sends a clear message that Nazi ideology and the hate it represents is not tolerated in Victoria,” the government said.
“The Hakenkreuz and the Nazi salute are the most widely recognised symbol and gesture used by the Nazi Party. They are used to incite hatred towards members of the Victorian community, which is why they have been explicitly banned.”