Federal parliament recalled to discuss new hate speech laws
Federal parliament will be recalled early to debate “the toughest hate laws Australia has ever seen” in the wake of the deadly Bondi terror attack.
Both the House of Representatives and Senate will be recalled early to pass hate speech laws following the Bondi terror attack that claimed 15 lives and injured dozens more.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says federal parliament will return next Monday to debate a bill aimed at combating antisemitism, hate speech and extremism.
The government would also look to set up a national gun buyback scheme and “get guns off our streets”.
“It’s a comprehensive package of reforms which creates serious offences for hate preachers and leaders seeking to radicalise young Australians,” Albanese said on Monday.
The proposed legislation – dubbed the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 –will increase penalties for hate crimes, ensure motivations of extremism will be considered in sentencing, and create a new offence for inciting hatred in order to intimidate or harass.
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It will also expand and strengthen the existing ban on prohibited Nazi symbols and make it easier for Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to cancel or refuse visas for people with intent to spread hatred.
Among other measures, the legislation would create “serious offences for hate preachers and leaders seeking to radicalise children” and create “a new framework that will enable the Minister for Home Affairs to list organisations as ‘Prohibited Hate Groups'”.
“Let me be clear – once these laws are passed, they will be the toughest hate laws Australia has ever seen,” Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said.
“They will specifically target those who seek to spread hatred and disrupt social cohesion in our community.”
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Parliament will recommence with a bipartisan condolence motion next Monday to recognise the trauma of the Bondi attack and honour bystanders and first responders for saving lives.
“This motion will unequivocally condemn the terrorist atrocity perpetrated at Bondi Beach and commit our parliament to eradicating the evil of antisemitism,” Albanese said.
The bill will also set up the National Guns Buyback Scheme, which will limit the number of firearms one person can own and make Australian citizenship a condition of holding a gun licence.
“The terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds, but guns in their hands – this law will deal with both,” Albanese said.
Existing laws “fell well short of community expectations and have left the community unprotected against egregious forms of hate speech”, Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim said.
“The concerns we have been expressing for many years have become especially acute since the horrific events at Bondi Beach on December 14,” he said.
“Such events make all Australians unsafe, not just those who are targeted.
“We welcome the fact that the government has announced plans to address these issues in the near future.”
