Australia on Thursday passed anti-hate crime laws under which a Nazi salute in public, among other similar offences, will be punishable by a mandatory jail sentence.

Summary

Australia has enacted strict anti-hate crime laws, mandating jail sentences for public Nazi salutes and other hate-related offenses.

Punishments range from 12 months for lesser crimes to six years for terrorism-related hate offenses.

The legislation follows a rise in antisemitic attacks, including synagogue vandalism and a foiled bombing plot targeting Jewish Australians.

The law builds on state-level bans, with prior convictions for individuals performing Nazi salutes in public spaces, including at sporting events and courthouses.

  • @OccamsRazerEnglish
    1•6 hours ago

    Dude, if a 15 year old kid is messing around with his buddies and throws up a salute, it should not be punishable. If a 30 year old autistic guy throws up a salute because he never understood the context or meaning behind it, he shouldn’t be punished. I can theorize a hundred examples that wouldn’t be deserving of punishment, but are actually simple misunderstanding or ignorance. And that’s the problem. I don’t think it’s acceptable, but I also don’t think it’s punishable through government actions. Social pressure should be sufficient to correct ignorant behavior in cases like this. Do you think it’s more just to punish an innocent man wrongly, or to let a guilty person go free? Do you feel confident in the justice system ability to determine guilt accurately?

    • Flying SquidEnglish
      1•6 hours ago

      If a 30 year old autistic guy throws up a salute because he never understood the context or meaning behind it, he shouldn’t be punished. I

      You’re now using the exact excuse people made for Elon Musk.

      Can you tell me about all these autistic people who go around giving Nazi salutes inadvertently? Because there are a lot of autistic people in my family and that doesn’t seem to be amongst their symptoms.

      • @OccamsRazerEnglish
        1•6 hours ago

        Elon is mature enough and to know better and I’m not defending him. But my argument is not that they would do it inadvertently, but that they would do it without understanding the significance. I feel like you keep trying to bully me into a position I don’t hold…

        • Flying SquidEnglish
          1•6 hours ago

          It is impossible for me to bully you over Lemmy. It is possible to say offensive things about autistic people, though. Maybe you shouldn’t. Unless you have an actual example of this happening.

          • @OccamsRazerEnglish
            1•4 hours ago

            You are intentionally mischaracterizing my stance and then being preachy and condescending about it. It’s pretty annoying so I’m going to move on.