New South Wales Moves to Shut Down Illegal Religious Centres Promoting Hate

The surviving Bondi attacker, Naveed Akram, was closely associated with Wissam Haddad, an extremist Islamist preacher in western Sydney.

The Al Madina Dawah Centre, which is used as an illegal prayer hall run by radical Sydney cleric Wissam Haddad, in Bankstown, Sydney, Australia on Dec. 24, 2025. AAP Image/Dean Lewins

New South Wales (NSW) Premier Chris Minns has announced his government will introduce new laws giving local councils the power to shut down illegal religious centres, aiming to deny preachers a platform for hate speech. That will be achieved by cutting off utilities to any place of public worship operating without planning approval.

Councils will have the support of police and the state’s Planning Department when required and will also be able to consult the police on community safety considerations before approving any new places of public worship.