Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has announced tougher hate-speech laws after a deadly attack on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach on Sunday.
Fifteen people were killed when gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah event, an attack Albanese said was driven by ISIS-inspired extremism and intended to divide Australians.
Speaking in Canberra, Albanese said the government would introduce new laws aimed at curbing hate, radicalisation and incitement to violence. The measures include a new offence of “aggravated hate speech,” harsher penalties for online threats and harassment, and jail terms for religious or community leaders who promote violence.
The home affairs minister will also gain expanded powers to deny or cancel visas for individuals who spread hate. In addition, a new taskforce will be created to ensure schools and universities actively prevent and respond to antisemitism.
“Jewish Australians deserve to feel safe, respected and valued,” Albanese said, adding that the wider public had responded to the attack with compassion rather than division.
The government will fully adopt recommendations from a July report by antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal, who said Australia faces a critical moment in confronting antisemitism. Some of the report’s proposals previously drew criticism over free-speech concerns, particularly fears they could be used to suppress pro-Palestinian protests by threatening funding cuts to universities and arts bodies.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the reforms were meant to close loopholes that allowed dehumanising language to flourish without crossing into outright violence.
Albanese also acknowledged criticism from Jewish leaders that his government had not acted strongly enough since the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel, saying he accepted responsibility and stressed the need to unite the country rather than deepen divisions.
