Key Takeaways
- The Jewish community is at risk from the promotion of antisemitic hatred and is urging a last-minute compromise to secure tough new hate speech laws.
- The government has agreed to split draft laws made in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack, with new gun control measures set to pass with the support of the Greens.
- The most controversial elements on vilification and intimidation have been put on pause due to strong opposition from the left and right of politics.
- The Executive Council of Australia Jewry is calling for a serious vilification offence to be implemented to tackle the deliberate promotion of antisemitic hatred.
- The Coalition is considering which measures they might be able to support through amendments, including the designation of hate groups and changes to immigration rules.
Introduction to the Debate
The Australian government is facing pressure from Jewish leaders to implement tough new hate speech laws in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack. The Executive Council of Australia Jewry’s co-chief executive, Peter Wertheim, has warned that the community remains at risk from the promotion of antisemitic hatred and is urging a last-minute compromise to secure new protections. The government has agreed to split draft laws made in response to the attack, with new gun control measures set to pass with the support of the Greens. However, the most controversial elements on vilification and intimidation have been put on pause due to strong opposition from the left and right of politics.
The Government’s Proposal
The government’s proposal includes the establishment of the biggest buyback of firearms since the Port Arthur massacre, as well as tougher rules and penalties around gun importations. The proposal also includes the creation of new criminal offences for online material related to the manufacture of firearms and explosives. Additionally, intelligence agencies such as ASIO would be required to conduct criminal background checks when individuals apply for a firearms licence. The government would also gain the power to ban groups, including neo-Nazi organisations and Islamist organisations such as Hizb ut-Tahrir, as well as to revoke or refuse visas for people with extremist views seeking to come to Australia.
Opposition and Criticism
The Coalition has criticized the government’s handling of the proposal, with shadow home affairs minister Jonathon Duniam stating that the government has "completely stuffed this up". Duniam argued that the government should have worked with all parties and communities to get the proposal right, rather than rushing it through at the last minute. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) has also slammed the rushed process, warning that the proposed rules around the designation of hate organisations are dangerous and could lead to ideology and politics being enforced with the power of the state.
The Need for Compromise
The Executive Council of Australia Jewry is calling for a serious vilification offence to be implemented to tackle the deliberate promotion of antisemitic hatred. Wertheim warned that the failure to implement such an offence would send a message that the deliberate promotion of racial hatred is not considered serious enough to be criminalized. The government and the Coalition are being urged to thrash out a deal on new protections immediately, with Labor’s Senate manager Katy Gallagher challenging the Coalition to live up to their offer of support made in the hours after the Bondi Beach attack.
The Way Forward
Parliament will hear condolence motions for the victims of the IS-inspired attack on Monday, before two bills are considered by MPs on Tuesday. The government and the Coalition will need to work together to find a compromise on the proposal, taking into account the concerns of the Jewish community and other stakeholders. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils has called for the legislation to be redrafted, warning that the proposed rules around the designation of hate organisations are dangerous and could lead to ideology and politics being enforced with the power of the state. Ultimately, the goal should be to implement laws that protect the community from hate speech and extremism, while also upholding the principles of democracy and freedom of speech.
