Extremist hate symbols to be tackled under law reform

WHAT IS THE PROPOSED LAW?

* The Albanese government has proposed amendments to Australia's criminal code to prohibit the use of hate symbols and stamp out extremism

WHAT SYMBOLS WOULD BE BANNED?

* Nazi hakenkreuz (hooked cross)

* Nazi double sig rune (the Schutzstaffel insignia or 'SS bolts')

* Islamic State flag

WHAT WOULD THE PROPOSED LAW DO?

* Make it a criminal offence to display, sell, rent or lease memorabilia containing the symbols

* Allow police to issue a direction to a person requiring them to remove banned symbols from public display

* Create new offences for accessing and sharing violent extremist material online, punishable by up to five years in prison

* Expand existing offence for advocating terrorism to include instructing someone to commit a terrorist act or praising a terrorist act, increasing the maximum penalty from five to seven years' imprisonment

* This would apply where there is a substantial risk that praise might lead someone to engage in a terrorist act

* Amend the terrorist organisation listing framework which will mean listings apply indefinitely unless revoked by the minister, rather than automatically lapsing after three years

ARE THERE ANY EXEMPTIONS TO THE BAN?

* The reforms would not apply to the display and use of the sacred swastika which is of spiritual significance to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism religions

* Journalistic, educational or artistic use of the symbols will also be exempt

WHY HAVE THESE REFORMS BEEN INTRODUCED?

* A push to ban hate symbols followed violent clashes between neo-Nazi demonstrators, counter-protesters and police at anti-immigration and anti-trans protests in Melbourne

* Security agencies have also issued warnings about the rise of extremism

* Reforms aim to allow law enforcement agencies to intervene earlier and disrupt violent extremists

* Nazi symbols invoke fear among Australians whose families were impacted by the Holocaust

* The symbols have also been used to promote hatred of other groups, including LGBTQI Australians

* The Islamic State flag is representative of an active terrorist organisation

* The ban would recognise the important distinction between the terrorist group and the Islamic faith