The steps Labor is taking to push through anti-Nazi laws

NSW MPs are likely to return to parliament for an extra week as the Minns government scrambles to push through new laws to outlaw neo-Nazi slogans and symbols – while Jewish groups say police already have enough powers to arrest racist protesters.

Premier Chris Minns has flagged a legislative response after 60 black-clad neo-Nazis, wielding a sign saying “Abolish the Jewish lobby”, demonstrated in front of parliament last Saturday.

Premier Chris Minns wants to strengthen laws banning Nazi symbols. Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong

Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley held high-level discussions on Thursday trying to chart a legislative solution, one Labor MP said on the condition of anonymity.

Ahead of the final sitting week in the parliamentary calendar, MPs have been told to ensure their schedules are clear for the last week of November, a reserve period, largely to provide sufficient time to deal with legislation targeting neo-Nazis.

A senior Labor source confirmed parliament sitting into the first few days of the reserve week was “probably likely at this stage”. The possibility has been circulated to “set expectations” and ensure MPs do not double-book themselves on a potential sitting day, one MP said.

Jewish groups have, in principle, supported the government’s attempts to crack down on antisemitism – but Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin believes police already have the tools at their disposal to prevent racist rallies.

Earlier this year, the parliament passed legislation making it a crime to publicly incite racial hatred, an offence available to police since August.

“Public demonstrations targeting the Jewish community and involving Nazi-era chants must surely violate such laws and they ought to be tested,” he said. “Our laws have to keep pace with evolving threats and dangerous patterns of behaviour. Only by testing existing laws can we as a society determine whether we have the legislative tools to protect Australians from violent ideologies.”

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said he supported the government moving to ban more Nazi slogans and symbols, but also expected the police to utilise powers already available to them against those who attended a neo-Nazi rally on Saturday.

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Earlier this week, Labor MPs appeared to be split on proposed law changes, and one said banning slogans, symbols and insignia used by far-right groups was tantamount to “playing whack-a-mole”.

Coalition sources confirmed that using the reserve week had been discussed. Stressing plans could change, they said it appeared as though MPs would sit next Friday, with another one or two days potentially necessary the following week. It would probably involve a smaller quorum of five or six MPs required to pass legislation, a senior Coalition source said.

Expectations of returning were heightened after the government dramatically failed to pass workers’ compensation reforms early on Friday. Labor sources expected the government would once again try and push through the legislation before the end of the year.

The government’s capacity to ban the National Socialist Network is constrained by a High Court decision in 1950 rejecting an effort by then-prime minister Robert Menzies to outlaw the Communist Party.

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