Four days after the Bondi Beach terror mass shooting that killed 15 people, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced tougher security and education measures aimed at tackling anti-Semitism and hate speech.
The package includes proposed new criminal offences, new visa cancellation powers, more online regulation, education reform, and the activation of the national disaster recovery funding—the first time it has been used for a terrorist attack.
In terms measures to tackle radicalisation they include a new aggravated hate-speech offence aimed at leaders who promote violence, tougher penalties for speech that incites harm, and sentencing changes to treat “hate” as an aggravating factor in online threats and harassment.
The government also plans to introduce a new regime to list organisations whose leaders promote violent hatred—likely affecting the Al Madina Dawah Centre in western Sydney—along with a narrow federal offence covering serious racial vilification and advocacy of racial supremacy.
The announcement comes after days of pressure from the federal opposition, former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (himself a Jew), and a meeting of the National Security Committee.
Albanese said the Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke would be tasked with drafting the new laws.
As part of the crackdown, Minister Burke will receive stronger powers to cancel or refuse visas for people who are believed likely to spread hate or division in Australia.
