Displaying symbols of Nazi ideology could be banned in the Australian state of Victoria following a parliamentary inquiry into the state’s anti-vilification laws. The potential ban would include the Nazi swastika, but it was not clear from the report whether this would encompass its use by Eastern faith groups which for thousands of years have recognised the symbol as one of divinity and spirituality, such as those in the Buddhist traditions. The state’s inquiry into its anti-vilification protections (pdf), put forward on March 3, also called for the laws to be extended to cover race and religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, HIV status, and disability. Put forward after eight months of inquiry, the report found the state’s Racial and Religious Tolerance Act legislation to be “under-utilised” and not effective in “promoting racial and religious tolerance and providing redress to victims of vilification.” It also said that vilification would be easier to …