Queensland to ban Nazi swastika tattoos as part of crackdown on hate symbols

The Queensland government has vowed to make it illegal to display Nazi swastika tattoos as part of its ban on hate symbols that it says will be among the strongest in the country.

It will join New South Wales, which has already implemented a ban on displaying the symbol, in applying the restriction to tattoos. Western Australia and Tasmania are also moving to include tattoos in their proposed bans.

The Queensland government told Guardian Australia that proposed ban will be introduced into parliament within a fortnight.

Guardian Australia revealed in January that three men had been charged with wilful damage in relation to the displaying of neo-Nazi material after police conducted raids on three separate addresses across south-east Queensland.

But there would be an exemption for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains for whom swastikas are religious symbols. There will also be an exemption for when hate symbols were used for educational purposes.

The state government will also introduce reforms to include a circumstance of aggravation for a range of offences, including public nuisance, where the offence is motivated by hatred or prejudice.