Australia introduces mandatory jail time for hate crimes, including for giving Nazi salute
CNNJAN 30
Australia Enacts Mandatory Jail Terms for Nazi Salutes
Above: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during an address to the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra on Jan. 24, 2025. Image copyright: Alex Ellinghausen/Contributor/Fairfax Media/Sydney Morning Herald via Getty Images
The Spin
Right narrative
The mandatory minimum sentences send a powerful message of zero tolerance to potential perpetrators and represent a necessary step to combating the shocking rise in antisemitism. Previous light sentences have failed to deter antisemitic crime, making these tough new measures essential for protecting vulnerable communities.
Left narrative
Mandatory sentencing laws are arbitrary and undermine judicial independence by preventing courts from imposing appropriate penalties based on individual circumstances. These measures contradict evidence-based approaches to reducing crime, limit judicial discretion, and risk causing grave injustice in the legal system.