Federal Parliament is starting the year earlier than scheduled in order to deal with hate laws and gun reform. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Federal Parliament is returning early to deal with wide-reaching hate laws and gun reform legislation, and to offer condolences to the victims of the Bondi terror attack.
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate will resume on Monday and Tuesday, in what Anthony Albanese has described as a moment to come together to convey sympathies, but also to take strong steps to crack down on hate groups.
Making the announcement on Monday afternoon (12 January), the Prime Minister said the government had been consulting on draft legislation, would brief the Opposition and Greens, and would consider constructive contributions.
A single comprehensive bill, it will be released publicly on Tuesday.
“The bill is the Combating Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill, a package of reforms which create serious offences for hate preachers and leaders seeking to radicalise young Australians,” Mr Albanese said.
“It increases the penalties for hate crime offences. It ensures offenders whose crimes are motivated by extremism will have that factored into sentencing.
“It creates a new offence for inciting hatred in order to intimidate or harass. It expands and strengthens the ban on prohibited symbols, and it makes it easier for the Minister for Home Affairs to cancel or refuse a visa for people intent on spreading hatred.
“The terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds but guns in their hands. This law will deal with both and we need to deal with both.”
The legislation also seeks to create a new framework to list organisations as prohibited hate groups and set up a national gun buy-back scheme.
The government wants a gun buy-back scheme, funded equally by the Commonwealth and states and territories, implemented by July.
The PM said he hoped the legislation, comprising all of those factors, would pass both Houses of Parliament without delay, as it was not about politics.
“I want an Australia that goes to our values, where everyone is respected,” he said.
“Where the Australian covenant is when people come here, they leave any hatreds and prejudices in the customs hall, and recognise the strength that is here in our diversity.
“One where we’re able to discuss differences in a mature and respectful way, rather than accusatory, rather than looking to always blame someone else.”
The PM also issued a statement outlining the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 as a package of reforms that:
- Creates serious offences for hate preachers and leaders seeking to radicalise children;
- Increases the penalties for hate crimes offences;
- Ensures that offenders whose crimes were motivated by extremism have that factored into their sentencing;
- Creates a new offence for inciting hatred in order to intimidate or harass;
- Expands and strengthens the ban on prohibited symbols;
- Makes it easier for the Minister for Home Affairs to cancel or refuse a visa for people who want to come here and spread hatred;
- Creates a new framework that will enable the Minister for Home Affairs to list organisations as ‘’Prohibited Hate Groups’’.
- Once an organisation is listed, it will be a criminal offence to be a member, recruit for it, donate or receive funds or support that group in any way; and
- Sets up the National Gun Buyback Scheme to get guns off the streets.
Fifteen people were killed in the ISIS-inspired shooting attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December.
Mr Albanese said the first order of business for Parliament on Monday would be a condolence motion for them.
“It will be an opportunity for the parliament to come together and convey our sympathies to the loved ones of those murdered by these terrorists on Bondi Beach on 14 December,” he said.
“To recognise the trauma and the pain of the people who have been injured, to honour the courage and quick action of police, first responders, and healthcare workers, and the lives that they saved.”
Parliament was scheduled to return on 3 February.
Last week, the Prime Minister called a national royal commission into the Bondi attack and antisemitism, following three weeks of Coalition and community pressure to do so.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said on Monday that the Opposition had not been provided with the government’s draft legislation before the Prime Minister’s announcement, but would be given the opportunity to review it later in the day.
“And will do so carefully,” Ms Ley said.
“We are deeply sceptical of the Prime Minister’s decision to introduce a single bill that will attempt to cover multiple complex and unrelated policy areas – for example, issues of speech are clearly separate from the ownership and management of firearms.
“Just days ago, the Prime Minister was dragged kicking and screaming to a Commonwealth royal commission, which is why Australians are right to be cautious when he preaches cooperation but does not practise it.”
