Nazi artefacts still being sold online years after trade outlawed across Australia
Despite federal laws banning the trade of Nazi symbols in Australia, online vendors continue to sell Nazi-era military memorabilia. Sellers claim these items are for educational or research purposes, exploiting legal exemptions.
Why it matters
The persistence of this trade raises questions about the effectiveness of hate speech and anti-extremism legislation in the digital age.
Nazi paraphernalia remain for sale on Australian websites. Composite: supplied Nazi paraphernalia remain for sale on Australian websites. Composite: supplied Australia news Nazi artefacts still being sold online years after trade outlawed across Australia One seller says second world war memorabilia containing banned Nazi symbols is legal under exemptions to the laws
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Prefer the Guardian on Google Nazi artefacts bearing prohibited symbols are being openly sold in Australia three years after the federal government made it illegal to do so, with vendors saying they are doing so for “educational” reasons.
The government in 2023 outlawed the display and trade of items bearing the Nazi Hakenkreuz (swastika) and double-sig rune that was the logo of the Schutzstaffel (SS), after multiple states passed similar laws that banned the display of Nazi symbols and the performance of the Nazi salute.
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