Demand rise for Nazi artifacts ahead of ban: Australia
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A new nationwide ban would exclude the display of Nazi insignia for educational, artistic, and similar uses.
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Australia’s government plans to ban swastikas and other Nazi symbols nationwide due to an increase in far-right activity. (AP)
In anticipation of an expected ban on the public display of Nazi symbols, Australian militaria stores report an "avalanche" of demand for Nazi artifacts, as per a new report by Guardian Australia.
Nazi insignia will no longer be displayed or sold in public under a measure that was proposed to the federal parliament in mid-June. It will also be illegal to make money off of such material offline or online. However, the new measure won't prohibit the private possession or exchange of non-commercial artifacts.
According to sellers, the ban has caused a buying and selling frenzy. At an auction last weekend on the Gold Coast, autographed photos of Hitler, Himmler, and Rommel were sold.
Additionally, this weekend's sale at David G. Smith Auctions of Bathurst will feature Nazi artifacts, as per the report. A military memorabilia sale is forthcoming at the "Vintage Militaria & War Memorabilia" sale Barn, however, it is unclear if it will feature Nazi artifacts.
Concurrently, JB Military Antiques will also have an auction including a variety of Nazi artifacts for sale, including Nazi uniforms and badges with the swastika.
According to Dustin Sweeny, managing director of Danielle Elizabeth Auctions, politicians were among those who purchased Nazi artifacts during an auction held there last weekend.
The rise of Neo-Nazim
The Coalition is also examining the possibility of introducing legislation that would explicitly ban the Nazi salute, which is not something the Australian government has in mind.
This comes as the country wrestles with a small but increasingly brazen fringe of right-wing extremists.
Intelligence officials have constantly warned that growing numbers of Australians are being drawn towards neo-Nazi ideologies, as extremist groups exert strained efforts to recruit new members.
It is worth noting that an Australian-born white supremacist murdered 51 Muslim worshippers in the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre in New Zealand.
See more: Islamophobia surged in Australia after the Christchurch massacre
