The Tasmanian government says it will not seek to ban the sale of Nazi memorabilia in the state, as a Launceston auction house prepares to sell further items this week.
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About 35 items, including an SS ring, swastika-adorned badges, pins and medals, and a copy of Hitler's Mein Kampf, are listed for sale at an auction to be held on Wednesday.
The latest auction follows an event in August which featured similar items, along with a Hitler Youth belt and a Luftwaffe officer's sash, which Premier Will Hodgman said "clearly" broke a community standard.
Dozens of Nazi Germany artefacts were sold at a West Australian auction in June. Last year, a Canberra auction house went ahead with a sale - while Melbourne action house withdrew items after backlash.
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Building and Construction Minister Elise Archer acknowledged that the display or sale of the items could be "often considered offensive, distressing and a breach of community and moral standards", but said the government was not considering regulatory action.
She added that though not illegal, the government "applauded" the actions of many auction houses or online retailers who were already choosing not to sell such items.
"While the Government strongly urges any individual or organisation in Tasmania to think twice about seeking to profit from the sale of such items ... the Government, following a review of other national and international jurisdictions, is not considering any regulatory action at this time."
The sale of Nazi items is banned or restricted in a number of European countries. Facebook, eBay, and a number of large auction houses such as Christie's and Sotheby's also have policies against their sale.
In August, Mr Hodgman said the government did not want to "impose unnecessary restrictions" on what people do with private property but a line had been "crossed". He added the government would consider what options were available to it.
Armitage Auctions auctioneer Neil O'Brien on Tuesday said he understood the sight of some items could be upsetting and apologised to those affected.
"The majority of the people we have dealt with who collect these items are collectors of all war memorabilia not just German, and collect on a historical basis, not with the intention of spreading hate and anti-Semitism," Mr O'Brien said.
He added it would be easy to make decisions on what the auction house should or should not be selling when there are "clear laws guiding us", but noted the difficulty around developing such legislation.
"Once again we wish to apologise to anybody who has been affected."
In a statement, Dr Dvir Abramovich, chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, condemned the latest Launceston sale and reiterated calls for Armitage Auctions and Mr Hodgman to act.
We must all remember that these objects embolden extremists and bigots who are nourished by possessing these murderous relics and who are committed to violence.
- Dr Dvir Abramovich
"It is clear by now that Armitage Auctions has no qualms about profiting from blood-money and providing a mainstream platform to these monstrous items that glorify history's darkest and most inhuman period," he said.
"I also repeat my call to Premier Hodgman to show the moral courage necessary and to ban the sale of Nazi memorabilia, thereby demonstrating that his government will always side with the victims and will not allow Hitler's legacy to thrive in his state."
The civil rights organisation is leading a national campaign to ban the sale of Nazi memorabilia.
Dr Abramovich said that with the recent rise of neo-Nazi activity it was important to not provide a platform for such items.
"We must all remember that these objects embolden extremists and bigots who are nourished by possessing these murderous relics and who are committed to violence," he said.
In August, Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg described the presence of Nazi memorabilia in the Australian community as "abhorrent".
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