Commuting along the Pacific Highway should be an innocuous exercise.
But in November 2022, motorists were confronted by alleged offensive imagery at Helensvale — a stretch of the Pacific Highway frequented by Logan residents commuting between the Gold Coast.
QPS Counter Terrorism Investigation Group last week executed multiple search warrants across Pimpama, Oxenford and Toowong.
While searching the premises, officers discovered banners, stickers, flyers and computer devices.
It is alleged that one of the banners is the same offensive imagery displayed on the Pacific Highway.
QPS detectives have now laid charges against three men in connection with the alleged offending.
Charges include wilful damage, contravening storage measures and other precautions about access to restricted items, and public nuisance.
The QPS will further allege that arrested persons are responsible for a number alleged incidents, including offensive imagery being posted in public areas, causing damage to infrastructure and sparking community concern.
It is expected that all three accused will front the Brisbane Magistrates Court on 28 February.
Counter-Terrorism Investigation Group’s Operations Commander, Acting Detective Super Superintendent Steyger, said the public has the “right to go about their daily lives without being subjected to highly offensive imagery.”
QPS maintains primary focus on community safety.
Describing the alleged offenders as “the smallest minority of our communities,” Acting Detective Super Superintendent Steyger said her team will “continue to disrupt… this type of behaviour.”
The seized banner depicting alleged offensive imagery is thought to contain an apparent swastika, widely regarded as symbolic of hateful ideologies such as Nazism.
Last May, the state government committed to criminalising the public display of hate symbols, including those related to Nazism.
President of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies, Jason Steinberg, said “many members of our community have relatives who were killed in the Holocaust.”
Mr Steinberg said the the QJBD has made a submission to the Parliamentary Inquriy into serious vilification and hate crimes, saying the QJBD has a strong focus on multiculturalism and “promotes harmony and respect for everyone.”
Describing his organisation’s working relationships with police, interfaith groups and schools as “strong and positive”, Mr Steinberg welcomes “the prompt introduction of legislation banning hate symbols.”
“The other antidote to hate is education,” Mr Steinberg said.
