Key facts
- Australia outlawed the trade and display of items bearing Nazi symbols in 2023.
- Vendors are continuing to sell Nazi-era military artefacts online, claiming educational or research purposes.
- Kurt Coleman Military Antiques and Henry's Military Collectibles are among those listing such items.
- The federal police are aware of the sales and are investigating.
- Exemptions to the law exist for religious, academic, artistic, literary, or scientific purposes.
Nazi artefacts bearing prohibited symbols continue to be openly sold online in Australia, despite federal laws enacted in 2023 making such trade illegal. Vendors are claiming the items are for "educational" or "research purposes", citing exemptions within the legislation.
Guardian Australia identified numerous listings from Australian sellers, including military antique dealers, featuring items such as helmets, badges, medals, and uniforms from the Nazi era that display the Hakenkreuz (swastika) or the double-sig rune. These symbols were banned following similar state-level legislation.
Kurt Coleman Military Antiques, based in Queensland, has listed a wide array of items, including booklets, pins, badges, rings, tunics, caps, and weaponry adorned with Nazi imagery. A porcelain vase with a Nazi eagle was priced at $2,500, and a large Nazi warship flag was listed for $2,000. The website states all items are for educational purposes only and that the seller does not endorse any political ideology.
Henry's Military Collectibles in Western Australia also offers German Nazi-era military items, with some listings showing stickers placed over the offending symbols. Owner Henry Fijolek, who served 37 years in the Army, believes he is operating within the law by trading items without displaying banned symbols and that history should not be eradicated.
The Australian federal police confirmed they have engaged with auction houses regarding the sale and display of items containing prohibited symbols, but would not confirm details of ongoing investigations. They urged the public to be aware of their legal obligations.
Associate Professor Romain Fathi, a military historian, noted that military objects are not neutral and can carry different meanings depending on the holder's motivations. He highlighted that collecting Nazi paraphernalia carries significant implications due to the regime's association with death and violence, contrasting it with collecting items from other historical periods or for museum exhibition.