About
![Swastika Education Awareness Campaign](https://bcv.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Buddha-with-swastika1_lr-1024x684.jpg)
A new law has come into effect in Victoria. On December 29, 2022, it became a criminal offence to publicly display the Nazi Hakenkreuz symbol – the most widely known Nazi symbol.
Hakenkreuz means twisted or hooked cross in German. The Hakenkreuz became a symbol of the Nazi party. The Nazi party committed heinous crimes against humanity, particularly Jewish people.
To this day some people, including neo-Nazi groups, still use the Nazi Hakenkreuz symbol to intimidate, incite hatred and violence against the Jewish community and other groups.
The Nazi Hakenkreuz is fundamentally incompatible with Victoria’s multicultural and multifaith society. Public display of this symbol now results in a $22,000 fine and/or up to 12 months imprisonment.
But the sacred swastika should not be mistaken for a Nazi symbol, they are not the same. Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains have for thousands of years used this symbol to represent auspiciousness, purity, peace, good fortune and love.
These groups may continue to publicly display their sacred swastika.
Visit vic.gov.au/about-the-nazi-symbol-ban
BCV Newsletters
BCV Newsletter June 2023
BCV Newsletter March 2023
Resources
You will find materials which have been approved by the Victorian government as a part of the Swastika Education Awareness Campaign.
See other links below:
Story on ABC TV:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC3gjUU77sM&ab_channel=ABCNews%28Australia%29
From the Jewish News:
https://www.jwire.com.au/from-next-week-jail-fines-await-neo-nazis-in-victoria/
The legislation:
https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/bills/summary-offences-amendment-nazi-symbol-prohibition-bill-2022
Press release from the Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews:
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/nazi-hate-symbols-now-banned-victoria