Albanese announces tougher hate speech laws in wake of Bondi terror attack
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Bondi Beach, the site of Sunday's antisemitic terror attack. (AAP: Dean Lewins)
In short:
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced sweeping reforms to clamp down on antisemitism in the wake of the deadly Bondi terror attack, while conceding his government is not perfect and could have done more before the tragedy.
As part of the response, the government will use tougher hate speech laws to target preachers who promote violence.
What's next?
The prime minister said the government "adopts and fully supports" the antisemitism envoy's recommendations and would continue to work through the implementation.
Preachers who promote violence will be targeted with tougher hate speech laws as the government embarks on sweeping reforms to crack down on antisemitism in the wake of the deadly terror attack on Sydney's Jewish community.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a list of legislative changes after a meeting of the National Security Committee before conceding his government could have taken stronger action in the lead-up to the tragedy that left 15 people dead.
"Governments aren't perfect, I'm not perfect," he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
"I have done my best to respond ... Anyone in this position would regret not doing more, and any inadequacies which are there.
"But what we need to do is to move forward."
The reform includes new federal offences of "aggravated hate speech" aimed at preachers that promote violence and "serious vilification" based on race and/or racism supremacy.
He also unveiled plans to increase the penalties for hate speech that promoted violence, the introduction of "hate" as an aggravating factor in sentencing in cases of online threats and harassment and a framework for listing organisations whose leaders engaged in hate speech.
Loading...The government strengthened its federal hate speech laws in February in a bid to curb growing antisemitic and Islamophobic sentiment, but did not go as far as outlawing vilification.
For days, Mr Albanese has been under fire from members of the Jewish community and the opposition for failing to act strongly enough on antisemitism before the attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach.
In the immediate aftermath, the government revealed plans to strengthen Australia's already strict gun laws, but critics said that would do little to deal with the underlying issue of antisemitism.
"It is clear we need to do more to combat this evil scourge, much more," Mr Albanese said on Thursday.
"I, of course, acknowledge that more could have been done, and I accept my responsibility for my part in that as prime minister of Australia."
The government has also been criticised for failing to fully implement antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal's 13-point plan to tackle antisemitism, which was given to the government six months ago.
Standing next to Ms Segal, the prime minister said the government "adopts and fully supports" the recommendations and would continue to work through the implementation.
Other measures also flagged
Mr Albanese also outlined new powers for the home affairs minister to cancel or reject visas for people who spread hate and division and a taskforce to ensure Australia's education system "prevents, tackles and properly responds" to antisemitism.
The eSafety commission and communications department will also be tasked with formulating "online safety advice" regarding antisemitism.
David Gonski will lead the 12-month education taskforce, which will engage with the antisemitism envoy, who has recommended specific Holocaust and antisemitism lessons be taught in state and private schools.
Ms Segal said the formal response to her work had been "a long time coming", but would build on work already underway.
"It is an important next step," she said.
"We have to lay foundations for the future of the nation."
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said for "too long" there had been examples of people skirting the edges of hate speech legislation "but managing to stay on the legal side of it".
"There have been individuals who have managed to exploit a nation that had different principles of freedom of speech and have gone right to the limits of language that is clearly dehumanising, unacceptable, having no place in Australia, but have not quite crossed the threshold to violence," he said.
"Today, we're announcing that we're shifting the threshold. We have no time for organisations where their mission is to hate Australia and to hate fellow Australians."
Since the attack, questions have been raised over the efficacy of hate speech laws, with the Coalition criticising the lack of enforcement.
Asked why it took so long to lower the threshold for hate speech offences, Mr Albanese said the changes "will require complex legal work".
Albanese 'open' to recalling parliament
The prime minister said he was open to recalling parliament over the summer to push through the laws, but that he wanted to ensure there was broad support across parliament first.
Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg issued a scathing rebuke of the government on Wednesday, as he called for a ban on protests and a royal commission into the attack.
Mr Albanese did not respond directly to calls for an inquiry after his minister's brushed off the request, but said he had been concerned by some of the language used during widespread pro-Palestine protests.
"When people come to Australia, you leave old divisions and hatred at the door. When you come to Australia, you are here to support our society, which is diverse, but that diversity is a strength," he said.
"And that is what overwhelmingly Australians want to see."