Prime Minister Anthony Albanese regrets more was not done to counter violent acts of antisemitism. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
Hate preachers will face tougher penalties, and hate will become an aggravating factor in sentencing crimes for online threats and harassment, under new laws to be introduced as a result of the deadly Bondi terror attack.
Anthony Albanese called an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee on Thursday (18 December) and emerged with his government’s response to Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal’s report.
The Prime Minister, who has been severely criticised since the Bondi shootings for not acting sooner on the Special Envoy’s plan, committed to accepting all of its recommendations.
“The Australian Government adopts the Plan to Combat Antisemitism and will work through the implementation of the 13 recommendations in consultation with the Jewish Australian community,” he says in the response paper.
“We recognise this plan reflects the outcome of extensive consultations with the Jewish Australian community.
“It is important to recognise that this is not merely a list of recommendations for government action, it is a program of work to be led by the Envoy, supported and implemented by both the Commonwealth and states and territories, as well as the broader community.”
Facing the media following the National Security Committee, Mr Albanese also acknowledged that he could have done more to help protect Australia’s Jewish community before the tragedy.
“Of course, more could have always have been done. Governments aren’t perfect. I’m not perfect,” he said.
“We have engaged in a constructive way… There wasn’t a Special Envoy on Antisemitism before this government came to office. There wasn’t hate speech legislation…
“I, of course, acknowledge that more could have been done and I accept my responsibility for the part in that as Prime Minister of Australia.
“But what I also do is accept my responsibility to lead the nation and unite the nation. Because what people are looking for at this time isn’t more division. They are looking to come together…
“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. We are taking action. We have taken action.”
Incoming reforms will include legislative changes to create new federal offences of “aggravated hate speech” and “serious vilification” based on race or “race supremacy”.
These laws will target preachers who promote race violence.
A regime will be developed for listing organisations whose leaders engage in hate speech promoting violence or racial hatred.
The Home Affairs Minister will also have new powers to cancel or reject visas for those who spread hate and division in Australia, or would do so if they were allowed to come here.
Education guru David Gonski has also agreed to lead a 12-month taskforce, which will include the Special Envoy, to ensure the Australian education system “prevents, tackles and properly responds” to antisemitism.
While the new measures have been initially generally well received, the Coalition wants the PM to recall Federal Parliament before Christmas in order to urgently pass the required legislation.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she wants legislation passed to “eradicate antisemitism and to strengthen Australia’s counter-terrorism laws”.
But she wants them to go further than Labor, saying legislation was needed to terminate Creative Australia funding agreements for artists who support antisemitic activities.
Ms Ley also wants to make the antisemitism envoy a statutory office under its own legislation; a review of educational curricula with reference to Jewish history, identity and culture; and ensuring “combating antisemitism is a provider condition” for tertiary educational institutions.
The Opposition Leader wants more funding directed to counter-terrorism policing; tougher electronic surveillance legislation; and stronger powers for removing dual citizenship and deporting “extremists and radicals”.
