Working together for the community

The rights of Hindus to display a Swastika were recently preserved and protected by a significant piece of legislation that was passed in NSW Parliament recently.

Pallavi Sinha, Principal Solicitor Lawyers with Solutions & President Global Diverse Connections, worked with Dr Yadu Singh of Federation of Indian Associations of NSW (FIAN), to advocate for appropriate wording of the legislation.

The Crimes Amendment (Prohibition on Display of Nazi Symbols) Act 2022 amended the Crimes Act 1900 to provide important, additional safeguards against hate speech and vilification in NSW.

Ms Sinha President Global Diverse Connections says, “ This matter was brought to my attention at very short notice. We supported the introduction of an offence of displaying Nazi symbols. However, we submitted that the first draft of the Bill was inaccurate and counter-productive, as it associated the Swastika with a Nazi symbol. We suggested to the Department of Communities and Justice, changes to the wording to the amendments that clarified that the display of a Swastika in connection with Buddhism, Hinduism or Jainism does not constitute the display of a Nazi symbol. It’s good for the community that these suggestions were adopted as the Swastika has significant religious, cultural and/or historical meaning for innumerable years. I thank the NSW Government, especially the NSW Attorney General Speakman and the NSW Multicultural Minister Coure, and all departments and organisations that were involved with drafting the Bill.”

Dr Singh of Federation of Indian Associations of NSW says, “The swastika is a living enigma for the Hindus in addition to others which displays auspiciousness, wealth, good fortune, the sun, the circle of life and has nothing to do with the Nazi insignia of hate, fascism and supremacy. The Nazi symbol is called the Hakenkreuz (“Hooked cross”), and should never be confused with Swastika. Concerned about the potential harm to our peace-loving community from an improperly drafted law, we reached out to the NSW government with our inputs and suggestions including Opinion Pieces on Swastika. We are pleased that NSW Government has given sufficient importance to these views from us and others, and has used an an appropriate language while drafting the Bill and then passing it in the NSW Parliament.”