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According to the Department of Home Affairs, objects bearing Nazi symbols continue to flow into Australia despite a nationwide ban on the symbols being in place for six months.
In its submission to a parliamentary inquiry into far-right movements in Australia, the department said the Australian Border Force had observed “an increasing volume of goods” containing images associated with nationalist and racist violent extremist groups – with Nazi symbols of particular concern.
According to the Home Office, “the import of Nazi memorabilia, both authentic historical items and modern reproductions, into Australia has not decreased since the laws were passed.
“Where these goods are imported in quantities which indicate the goods are likely to be trafficked, Australian Border Protection will refer the goods to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for consideration of investigation under the Criminal Code,” the department’s statement said.
The laws – and the trade and display of products bearing the Hakenkreuz, the traditional swastika symbol appropriated by the Nazi Party, came into effect in January of this year.
Attorney General Mark Dreyfus said at the time that they would prevent people from profiting “from acts and symbols that glorify the Nazis and their evil ideology.”
However, the symbols can be used in educational and .
The Interior Ministry also wrote in its letter that extremists were turning away from traditional social media platforms and targeting smaller platforms that were “unable or unwilling to moderate content.”
“The link between violent extremist online content and the radicalisation of young people towards violent extremism remains a concern,” the ministry statement said.
“Young people are particularly vulnerable to radicalisation when exposed to violent extremist propaganda online, as these stories can trigger feelings of alienation, anxiety about the future and distrust of authority.
“Violent extremists are also abusing online gaming platforms to radicalize and recruit an increasingly younger group of internet users.”
Meanwhile, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) wrote in its report that online platforms remain “key enablers of radicalisation”.
ASIO also reported that extremists are increasingly using encrypted messaging platforms to avoid detection.
“The changing nature of terrorism is shaped by global events, emerging technologies and wider societal trends, including online radicalisation and the growth of extreme views, conspiracies and grievances,” ASIO wrote in its submission.
ASIO Director General Mike Burgess that the end-to-end encryption used by some messaging platforms (which prevents data from being secretly read or modified while in transit between devices) hampered the spy agency’s ability to target extremists.
This is despite which were designed to force technology companies to help law enforcement agencies access encrypted messages.
Burgess said he was not looking for new laws or powers, but wanted tech companies to “enforce existing laws”.
The parliamentary committee investigating far-right movements in Australia will on Wednesday question officials from the Home Office, ASIO and AFP about how violent extremism is being tackled and the threat it poses to Australia.
The Islamophobia Register Australia and the Human Rights Commission will also testify about extremists at the hearing.
With thanks to Australian Associated Press.
