Australia’s government has announced tougher measures against hate speech in the wake of a deadly attack at Bondi Beach that targeted a Jewish community event.
Speaking in Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the new approach aims to curb hate, division and radicalisation, following Sunday’s shooting during celebrations marking the first day of Hanukkah, which left 15 people dead. Authorities say the attack was ideologically motivated and has heightened concerns about antisemitism and violent extremism in the country.
Under the proposed reforms, new legislation will strengthen penalties for hate-related offences, including the creation of a federal crime of aggravated hate speech. Courts will also be required to consider hate as an aggravating factor when sentencing crimes involving online threats and harassment. Religious leaders or public figures who incite violence could face additional sanctions.
The government also plans to expand the powers of the home affairs minister to cancel or deny visas to individuals found to be spreading hate. In parallel, a dedicated taskforce will be established to ensure schools and universities are better equipped to prevent, address and respond to antisemitism within the education system.
“Every Jewish Australian has the right to feel safe, respected and valued,” Albanese said, adding that the perpetrators sought to divide the country. He stressed that the broader community response had instead been one of solidarity and compassion.
The prime minister confirmed that the government would adopt recommendations from a report released in July by antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal, who described the current period as a critical moment in the global fight against antisemitism. However, some elements of that report had drawn criticism, particularly over concerns that measures affecting universities and cultural institutions could undermine free expression.
The Jewish Council of Australia welcomed the government’s commitment to tackling gun violence and online hate, but cautioned against policies it said could be used to restrict legitimate political debate, including criticism of Israel. The council warned that such approaches could prove counterproductive to Jewish safety.
Albanese acknowledged criticism from parts of the Jewish community that earlier government action had been insufficient following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. He accepted responsibility while emphasising the need to lead a unified national response rather than deepen divisions.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the reforms are designed to lower the threshold for intervention before hateful language escalates into violence. He argued that existing laws had allowed some individuals to push dehumanising rhetoric to the brink without legal consequences.
Leaders of Australia’s Jewish community said they would assess the proposals once full details are available, noting that earlier warnings about rising antisemitism had not been acted upon swiftly enough.
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