Condemnation has come from all sides for protesters who waved Hezbollah flags at weekend rallies, with a warning that those on visas could be kicked out of Australia.

The designated terrorist organisation’s symbols were among those waved at protests decrying Israel’s bombing of Lebanon and the killing of leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has “unequivocally condemned” any indication of support for a terrorist group. People on visas faced “a higher level of scrutiny”, he warned on Monday.

“I have made clear from day one, that I will consider refusing and cancelling visas for anyone who seeks to incite discord in Australia,” he said.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the flags and even an indication of support fomented fear and division in Australia, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the display was worrying.

“We have continued to call for a de-escalation of that conflict in the Middle East,” he said.

“At the same time we’ve seen worrying signs over the weekend.

“We do not want people to bring radical ideologies and conflict here. Our multiculturalism and social cohesion cannot be taken for granted and it’s important that we continue to stress that that is the case as we go forward as well.”

We condemn any indication of support for a terrorist organisation such as Hizballah.

It not only threatens national security, but fuels fear and division in our communities.

All of us – including every political leader – must stand together to reject terrorism and extremism.

— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) September 30, 2024

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has demanded arrests after the displays in Sydney and Melbourne.

“I find it completely unacceptable that the government wouldn’t be arresting people already, or cancelling visas of people who are glorifying Hezbollah and Hamas and others,” he said.

He said Parliament should be recalled to urgently pass legislation criminalising the glorification of a terrorist leader if current laws weren’t strong enough to allow for prosecutions, he said.

The Australian Federal Police said it was aware protests and political demonstrations would be used to amplify extremist messaging but simply displaying prohibited symbols didn’t reach the Commonwealth law threshold.

The symbol needed to be used in actions that spread ideas of racial superiority or hatred or were likely to offend, insult or intimidate a person for reasons such as their race, religion or nationality.

“The criminal code sets out very specific elements that must be met in order to charge an individual with a terrorism offence,” an AFP spokesperson said.

Officers had the power to direct people to take down the symbols but couldn’t remove them by force, although those who failed to comply faced fines, the AFP said.

Some states and territories also have hate symbol laws.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan urged the AFP and Victoria Police to investigate those holding the flags and signs.

“They should be held to account. Not just for the displaying of a prohibited symbol, but for the grief and pain and anguish that that is causing far too many in our community at a time when that grief and anger is raw. It is real,” she said.

The Commonwealth laws were designed to criminalise glorifying and praising acts of terrorism and there was no justification for anyone supporting Hamas or Hezbollah, a spokeswoman for the attorney-general said.

“Iconography can be used to promote hateful ideologies and intimidate our community,” she said.

The protests in Australia come amid growing fears the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon could spark a greater regional war as tensions boil and missile attacks escalate.

Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah have traded fire across the southern Lebanese border for months. Israel upped the ante in recent weeks, launching thousands of missiles that killed hundreds of people in Lebanon.

The Israel Defence Forces say they targeted the organisation’s members and weapon stocks as residential apartments were levelled and dozens of children were among the casualties.

It has prompted Australia to join calls for a temporary ceasefire and de-escalation as Iran and Hezbollah threaten further retaliation.

Nasrallah’s death wouldn’t be mourned but the focus needed to remain on civilian deaths, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said.

“We need a ceasefire so that the senseless killing of families stop,” he told ABC radio.

Lifeline 131 114

beyondblue 1300 224 636

-with AAP