Laws giving police, courts greater power to combat extremism pass Parliament

The Crimes and Summary Offences Amendment Bill 2025, which passed the Legislative Council on Thursday night, amends the Crimes Act 1900 to ban conduct which invokes imagery or characteristics associated with Nazism, such as Nazi chants or slogans.

Someone who engages in this conduct in public and without reasonable excuse will face up to a year’s imprisonment or a maximum fine of $11,000.

Committing this offence near a synagogue, Jewish school or the Sydney Jewish Museum carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment or a $22,000 fine.

The Crimes and Summary Offences Amendment Bill 2025 also elevates the seriousness of new and existing offences relating to Nazi conduct and Nazi symbols. This means perpetrators will be able to be tried on indictment at the District Court.

The Bill introduces new powers allowing police to order a perpetrator to take down a suspected Nazi symbol.

It also means NSW Police will be able to order someone to reveal their identity, if the information is reasonably suspected to aid an investigation for an alleged Nazi symbol or Nazi conduct offence.

The amendments also clarify that people can be charged with these offences even if they are committed during an authorised public assembly, putting this beyond any doubt. This includes the offence of inciting racial hatred.

“These reforms give our law enforcement and courts greater powers to crack down on extremists who promote abhorrent Nazi chants and slogans.

“These views are unacceptable and have no place in NSW and we are holding those who espouse them to account.”