Both men were charged for publicly displaying a Nazi symbol without excuse, and refused bail before their Friday court date.

Australia passed anti-hate crime laws that include minimum sentences for displaying hate symbols like the Nazi salute. It comes as acts of antisemitism are on the rise in Australia.

Australia has introduced strict laws to combat hate crimes, introducing mandatory minimum sentences for a range of terrorism offences and the display of hate symbols, following a spate of antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne.

"Public discourse has increasingly been weaponized, with hateful rhetoric aimed at attacking groups in the Australian community," read an explanatory memorandum.

In a bid to tackle a recent surge in antisemitism, Australia passed a series of tough anti-hate crime laws, including mandatory minimum sentences displaying hate symbols. The laws will impose minimum jail sentences of 12 months for hate crimes,

IPA Research Fellow Margaret Chambers says Australia’s new hate speech laws will “hand a sword to activists” to shut down opinions they disagree with.

Federal Parliament has passed what the government calls Australia’s toughest laws against hate speech and hate crimes. Labor conceded to Coalition demands for mandatory sentencing to secure support for the bill.