Hate symbols and terror offences will be punishable with mandatory jail terms ranging from one to six years in Australia, after parliament passed a series of amendments to hate crime laws on Thursday.
The new laws were passed following a wave of high-profile antisemitic attacks which have become a major topic of debate in the country.
The amendments have been described by the government as the “toughest laws Australia has ever had against hate crimes”.
But critics say that the governing Labor Party is caving to opposition demands and going against its own policy of opposing mandatory jail sentences.
Under the amendments, displaying hate symbols or performing a Nazi salute is now punishable with at least one year in prison.
Other penalties include a minimum of three years for financing terrorism and six years for committing or planning terrorist acts.
There have been several attacks on Jewish targets in Australia in recent months.
Last week authorities in Sydney found a caravan containing explosives and an antisemitic note.
The discovery came just a week after a childcare centre near a Jewish school and synagogue in Sydney was set on fire and antisemitic graffiti was seen on one of its walls.
Credit: bbc.com
