Cops slammed for watching Hitler salutes, Lib MP may be expelled

Heil Hitler salutes to be banned after cops bizarrely stood by and watched a group of Victorian neo-Nazis make one of the world’s most reviled signs on the steps of parliament

• Victorian Labor government to ban Heil Hitler salute 
• Liberal MP to be expelled for attending same rally as Nazis 
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Victorian police have been slammed for failing to stop neo-Nazis from doing Heil Hitler salutes out the front of the state’s Parliament on Saturday, while a Liberal MP faces expulsion for attending the same rally. 

Police Association of Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said officers prevented a fight between rival groups but were powerless to stop the actions of the neo-Nazis. 

In response, Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes announced on Monday that the state  will strengthen its anti-vilification laws to ban the Nazi salute.

‘The behaviour we saw on the weekend was disgraceful and cowardly,’ she said.

Meanwhile, Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto will move to expel MP Moira Deeming from the parliamentary party over her role in the anti-transgender rally outside the state parliament.

English anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull’s (pictured right) ‘Let Women Speak’ spoke at the event outside the Victorian parliament

Victorian police have been slammed for failing to stop neo-Nazis (pictured) from doing Heil Hitler salutes on Saturday

Ms Deeming spoke at British anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull’s ‘Let Women Speak’ event outside the Victorian parliament.

However, members of the National Socialist Movement repeatedly performed the Nazi salute on the steps of Parliament House and held signs calling transgender people offensive names, sparking violent clashes with hundreds of counter-protesters.

‘It’s clear this (Nazi salute) is being used to incite hatred not just towards Jewish people but our LGBTIQ+ community and other minority groups,’ said Ms Symes.

‘Victorians have zero tolerance of this behaviour and so do we. 

‘That’s why we’ll expand our nation-leading legislation banning the Nazi Hakenkreuz (Swastika) to include the Nazi salute – because everyone deserves to feel safe, welcome and included in Victoria.’

Liberal MP Moira Deeming (pictured) faces expulsion from her party for attending the same rally

Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (pictured right) is seen having a discussion with another rally attender

Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, who launched a campaign in January to outlaw the Heil Hitler salute, welcomed the move. 

‘A terrible wrong has been made right and anyone who loves this country will support this ban,’ he said. 

‘This decision honours the sacrifice made by our diggers who died to defeat Hitler and pays tribute to the victims and to the Holocaust survivors who rebuilt their lives here.’ 

Mr Pesutto said on Sunday the scenes of black-clad white supremacists marching along Spring Street were an ‘abomination’ and ‘affront’ to values all Victorians should hold dear.

He said he met Ms Deeming on Sunday afternoon and discussed her involvement in organising, promoting and participating in the rally.

Mr Pesutto said Ms Deeming’s position was ‘untenable’ and he would move a motion at the next party room meeting to expel her as a member of the parliamentary Liberal Party.

‘This is not an issue about free speech but a member of the parliamentary party associating with people whose views are abhorrent to my values, the values of the Liberal Party and the wider community,’ Mr Pesutto said.

Victoria’s Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes announced on Monday that the state will strengthen its anti-vilification laws to ban the Nazi salute

Men wearing black tops and shorts perform the Nazi salute at a protest in Melbourne, Australia March 18, 2023 in this picture obtained from a social media video

Men are pictured performing the Nazi salute at an anti-trans protest in Melbourne on March 18

‘Regardless of religious faith, race, sexual preference and identity, Victorians everywhere should know that the Liberal Party is inclusive and can be a voice for them.’

Ms Deeming was elected to the Victorian parliament last year as a member for Western Metropolitan region, replacing controversial MP Bernie Finn.

In a post on social media, Ms Deeming, a former teacher and City of Melton councillor, said she was disappointed with Victoria Police for letting masked men into the rally buffer zone.

‘Police managed to stop hordes of (trans rights activists), but somehow could only walk masked men past us (as) they did a horrible Nazi salute,’ she said on Twitter.

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