The ACT Government has announced new legislation to strengthen hate crime and vilification laws.

Set to be introduced in December, the new laws expand prohibitions on Nazi symbols and gestures, and ensures hate motivation is expressly considered when offenders are sentenced.

The Bill comes in the wake of the final report of the Hate Crime and Vilification Review, which made nine recommendations to strengthen legal protections, improve public information and referral pathways, and make existing protections easier to understand and access.

Under the new laws the existing prohibition on Nazi symbols will now include the Nazi salute and the Nazi double-sig rune, commonly known as SS bolts, require courts to consider hate motivation towards a relevant protected attribute when sentencing an offender, and increase its maximum penalty to include imprisonment.

The Government will also undertake further consultation on the design of a proposed offence concerning the use of false or misleading representations to lure people into homophobic and other prejudiced-motivated attacks.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr says Canberra is at its best when everyone feels safe, respected and included.

“These reforms deliver on our election commitment to strengthen protections against hate and vilification and respond directly to what communities have told us” Mr Barr said.

“Nobody should be targeted because of who they are. When hatred is used to intimidate or harm others, the law must respond clearly and strongly, and these reforms ensure it does.”

The Bill is scheduled to be introduced into the Legislative Assembly in December, delivering on the Government’s election commitment to review and strengthen the ACT’s hate crime and serious vilification laws.