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Albanese Backs Mask Ban and Hate‑Speech Crackdown After NSW Neo‑Nazi Rally

Calls for tougher laws are building following a police‑approved neo‑Nazi rally outside state parliament.

Overview

  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese endorsed state efforts to ban face coverings at protests and to outlaw Nazi chants, calling the authorised gathering outside NSW Parliament completely unacceptable.
  • Premier Chris Minns said he will move within weeks on stronger hate‑speech laws, noting NSW outlaws Nazi symbols but not chants or slogans used at the rally.
  • NSW Police allowed the event to proceed after receiving a Form 1 from a group listed as White Australia and relied on legal advice that a court bid to stop it would likely fail.
  • Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell apologised for not informing Commissioner Mal Lanyon about the protest and acknowledged a communication failure that is under review.
  • The NSW Opposition will reintroduce measures to ban non‑religious masks, shift some policing costs to organisers after three events, and seek to restore move‑on powers in a constitutionally compliant form.