New South Wales police drop investigation into Nazi memorabilia in store

Key Point
  • An antique store in New South Wales has come under scrutiny for displaying Nazi items.
  • Jewish community leaders condemn the sale of Nazi memorabilia.
  • Prime Minister Dominic Perrotet has revealed that he wore a Nazi uniform on his 21st birthday nearly 20 years ago.
Members of the Jewish community are outraged that stores in New South Wales continue to sell Nazi memorabilia and publicly display Nazi uniforms.
almost 20 years ago.
NSW passed legislation last August, is the second largest state in the country after Victoria.
However, the Morpeth Antique Center near Newcastle, New South Wales, continues to sell and display a variety of knives and other Nazi-related memorabilia. The center allows various dealers to install their own antique collections in cabinets for sale or display.
On Friday night, New South Wales Police confirmed that an investigation into the display had been dropped.
A spokesperson for NSW Police told SBS News: “Police officers from the Port Stephens Hunter Police District are investigating the display and have followed legal advice and will take no further action.”
SBS News understands that the operators of the Morpeth Antique Center have agreed to remove certain items from public display.
Sydney man Mark Mullins was “shocked” when he found Nazi items on display during a road trip to Morpeth on Sunday.
He saw Nazi armbands, athletic singlets with Nazi symbols, and knives sold in glass cabinets. He was shocked to see three of his Nazi uniforms displayed in the center of the room.

He said the dagger with the swastika symbol was priced at $2,500 and the singlet sold for $1,100.

“I was a little shocked by the display in the middle of the room. At least in Australia it’s in bad taste,” he said.
“You wouldn’t expect to run into Australia on a Sunday afternoon drive.”
He said he wasn’t sure if the uniforms were for sale or for display.
Mullins said he felt uncomfortable after seeing the exhibit and wished the historical memorabilia would be contextualized in appropriate settings, such as the Australian War Memorial and the Sydney Jewish Museum.

“When something like that is displayed, it’s like normalizing a disgusting side of history,” Mullins said.

Exhibition of Nazi uniforms and memorabilia

A store in New South Wales was spotted displaying Nazi uniforms and selling Nazi-related memorabilia. credit: Mark Mullins

SBS News asked Mr Perrottet about the continued display of Nazi symbols in stores in NSW.

“If that information comes to light, I will take it up with the police. It’s illegal,” he said.
In a statement to SBS News, NSW Police said they were “aware of the reports and are investigating”.
Two weeks after New South Wales law passed a ban on public Nazi symbols, Morpeth Antiques Center manager Kylie Richards asked the state’s Attorney General Mark Speakman to clarify the law. I wrote a letter requesting

On behalf of Speakman, the Department of Community Justice responded to Richards in a letter dated Sept. 20, confirmed by SBS News, that the purpose of the law is to protect communities from harm and condemn acts of hate. said.

“The intent of the crime is to capture harmful and negligent acts that promote hatred rather than legitimate display of Nazi symbols in history classes, movie posters, art gallery flyers, etc. In good faith.” was written in the letter.
“Accordingly, the Government shall impose laws that would capture the public display of Nazi symbols reasonably and in good faith for academic, artistic, educational or other purposes in the public interest. We have included reasonable excuses that are broad and not exhaustive.”
Antiques dealer Matt Robinson said the store has three cabinets on display and sells a variety of historical memorabilia on behalf of others.
Robinson said he does not condone anti-Semitism or casually wearing Nazi uniforms, and the antiques store is considered a memorabilia-filled resource center and museum for those interested in war history. I explained that there is
“These are historical items that people are interested in. I have collectors who have been collecting in various military for 20, 30, 40 years. They are real and legitimate collectors.

“I spent less than a minute talking to someone who might imply that he was a Nazi or that he had a real fascination with Nazis themselves,” he said.

Signs outside the Morpeth Antique Center display historical memorabilia in many forms, including ‘German Army in World War II’. sauce: attached / Matt Robinson

The central sign, written by Third Reich collectibles guru Chris Williams, reminds people of “how blind submission to a charismatic leader ultimately ends a traditional and moral society.” It can make people understand how it can lead to the destruction of

When SBS News asked Mr. Robinson if he displayed or sold Nazi memorabilia in his cabinet, he did not respond.
The letter stated that the Attorney General was unable to provide specific legal advice on Mr Richards’ matter and provided a fact sheet on legal services available in NSW.
Benjamin Elton, Rabbi and senior pastor of Sydney’s Great Synagogue, said there was no more tragic symbol for the Jewish community than the uniform of the swastika and the Nazi insignia.
“These were the uniforms that Jews and others used when millions were murdered,” he said.
“I think it’s scary. I don’t think it’s an item to collect.
“These are the uniforms worn by war criminals, people who went into battle for a very evil regime, who did very evil things, very much in the categories of our minds. and should not be used for any purpose, a purpose that we take lightly.”
Perrottet is 10 weeks away from competing for leadership in the NSW elections this March.

SBS News reached out to Speakman and Richards for comment.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/nsw-police-drop-investigation-into-nazi-memorabilia-as-fallout-continues-for-dominic-perrottet/1rfdzr69w New South Wales police drop investigation into Nazi memorabilia in store

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