Australia’s parliament has been recalled early to address new legislation targeting hate speech and gun laws following the Bondi Beach terror attack. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the government will introduce a bill designating hate crimes as a “serious” offence and establishing a national gun buyback scheme.
Albanese Announces Sweeping Legislation
The prime minister stated the legislation is necessary to address both the hatred and the means used in the Bondi attack. “The terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds but guns in their hands. This law will deal with both and we need to deal with both,” he said.
The federal government has been consulting on proposed changes to strengthen hate speech laws, including creating a regime for listing organizations deemed to promote hate. The laws will also expand the ban on prohibited symbols and streamline the process for the home affairs minister to cancel visas.
The new laws will establish a gun buyback scheme. (ABC News: Joel Wilson)
Under the proposed laws, the home affairs minister will have the authority to designate organizations as ‘prohibited hate groups.’ Individuals will be barred from joining, supporting, recruiting for, fundraising for, or receiving funds from these groups.
The legislation will also create a new offence for inciting hatred with the intent to intimidate or harass. Albanese stated, “We want to ensure that Australia remains a society where everyone has the right to be proud of who they are and we also want to make it clear that conduct which is hateful, dangerous, and divisive will also be illegal.”
“Just as antisemitism and racism are an offence against our Australian values, they should be an offence against Australian law.”
Coalition Expresses Concerns
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the legislation, once enacted, will represent the most stringent hate speech laws in Australia’s history. “They will specifically target those who seek to spread hatred and disrupt social cohesion in our community. And it will send a clear message that this conduct will not be tolerated,” she said.
Sussan Ley says the Coalition is concerned gun and hate speech reforms will be wrapped into a single bill. (ABC News)
The proposed changes to gun and hate speech laws will be introduced as a single bill, a move that has drawn concern from the Coalition. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley stated, “We are deeply sceptical of the prime minister’s decision to introduce a single bill that will attempt to cover multiple complex and unrelated policy areas.”
Albanese also announced a national royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion last week, tasked with examining the circumstances surrounding the Bondi terror attack and related issues. The inquiry will be led by former High Court justice Virginia Bell.
A national gun buyback scheme will be established under the reforms, with the Commonwealth committing to fund 50-50 with the states and territories by July 1. Albanese indicated he would allow states to comment on their funding commitments.
The prime minister stated the government has designed the legislation to withstand legal challenges and will “vigorously defend” it. He expressed hope for swift passage through parliament with broad support. The bill will be referred to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security for review.
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