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AAP
AAP
Politics
Ethan James and Callum Godde

Tasmania follows Victoria in push to ban Nazi salute

Anti-transgender activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (centre) was drowned out by protesters in Hobart. (Ethan James/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Tasmania's government has joined Victoria in a push to ban the Nazi salute, after outrage following an anti-transgender rights rally in Melbourne.

About 30 men dressed in black performed the salute at the rally on Saturday outside Victoria's parliament where UK anti-transgender activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull spoke.

Ms Keen-Minshull visited Hobart on Tuesday, where hundreds of pro-transgender rights supporters drowned out her speaking event on the steps of state parliament house.

Scuffles and pushing and shoving broke out, forcing police to separate the two groups.

Ms Keen-Minshull told the crowd of a few dozen supporters it was the worst place she had ever been to.

There was no sign of Nazi elements that appeared at her Melbourne rally.

Tasmania's Liberal government on Tuesday announced plans to introduce laws to ban the Nazi salute.

They are aiming to include the ban as part of legislation that criminalises the public display of Nazi symbols, which was coincidentally set to be debated this week.

It comes a day after the Victorian government committed to banning the salute.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the process would be complex and the government would carefully draft the bill.

"There are some other jurisdictions, some European countries who have successfully been able to do this," he told reporters.

"There have been some challenges, as in court challenges, and then they've had to refine their laws.

Neo-Nazis and transgender rights supporters faced off at a demonstration in Melbourne. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

"We'll look to all of them and make sure that we do this in the most practical and meaningful way, and try and do it in a way that it can't be challenged in the courts."

Equality Tasmania and the state's Labor opposition and Greens have backed the salute ban.

"LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians have been subject to Nazi-branded hate for many years, including during the marriage postal survey," Equality Tasmania president Rodney Croome said.

Tasmania's Attorney-General Elise Archer said it was "deeply concerning" to see the abhorrent actions of protesters in Melbourne.

"The use of the Nazi salute is offensive, distressing and a breach of our community and moral standards," she said.

"I want everyone in our community to feel safe from these disturbing displays whether it be Nazi symbols or saluting, as they can cause hate and fear."

Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus told parliament there was no place in Australia for such displays.

"These are markers of some of the darkest days in world history, of ghettos, of deportations, and mass murder that touched my own family," he said.

"Six million Jews perished in the Holocaust. We must never ever forget. And thousands of Australian service men and women died fighting the Nazi regime."

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he joined the attorney-general in condemning "any use of Nazi symbols of the salute, of any glorification of that period of history".

The Victorian government is expected to soon respond to a parliamentary inquiry report tabled in August that found neo-nazism and other far-right extremist ideologies are a growing threat in the state.

In question time on Tuesday, state Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said action was being taken on the report's recommendations.

"We've got consultation papers that will be going out soon in relation to (the salute) and I think it'll pick up a lot of ... the work that you've identified from the committee, from this place, in relation to extremism," she said.

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