In a decisive response to one of Australia's worst acts of mass murder, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a sweeping legislative crackdown on hate speech and those who preach violence. The move follows intense national pressure to combat antisemitism after the terrorist attack at a Hanukah celebration in Sydney on Sunday.
New Legislative Powers to Combat Hate
Speaking in Canberra on Thursday after a meeting of the national security committee, Albanese detailed a series of stringent new measures. The federal government will significantly strengthen existing hate speech laws, with a particular focus on religious preachers and leaders who promote violence.
The package includes creating an aggravated hate speech offence for such figures, increasing penalties for hate speech that incites violence, and making hate an aggravating factor in sentencing for online threats and harassment. Furthermore, the government plans to develop a regime for listing organisations whose leaders engage in hate speech promoting violence or racial hatred.
Visa Cancellations and a Federal Vilification Offence
Beyond domestic law, the government is creating new powers to cancel or reject visas of individuals who spread hate and division. This forms part of a major escalation in the official response to the Bondi massacre.
Albanese confirmed the plan would also involve developing a narrow federal offence for serious vilification based on race or for advocating racial supremacy. The Prime Minister stated the government fully adopts the plan to combat antisemitism put forward by Jillian Segal.
A National Response to a Rising Scourge
Albanese directly linked the attack to a disturbing rise in antisemitism since the events of 7 October 2023. He described Sunday's violence as a culmination of this trend and one of the worst acts of mass murder in the country's history.
"It was an attack on our Jewish community - but it was also an attack on the Australian way of life," Albanese said. "Australians are shocked and angry. I am angry. It is clear we need to do more to combat this evil scourge much more."
The announcement comes after the Prime Minister faced criticism for initially focusing on tightening gun control laws in the attack's immediate aftermath. Figures including former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard suggested this was an attempt to distract from a perceived failure to tackle antisemitism effectively.
The new legislative package represents the federal government's most robust attempt to date to address the ideologies believed to have fueled the Sydney terror attack, aiming to prevent such tragedies in the future.
