Australia's Prime Minister has announced new measures to combat anti-Semitism following Sunday's terrorist attack in Sydney. Laws against hate speech will be expanded to specifically target “those who spread hate” as part of a new campaign to stamp out anti-Semitism.
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Australia's Home Affairs Minister will also be given the power to cancel visas for those who spread “hatred and division” under a five-point plan announced on Thursday, as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Albanese to do more to combat anti-Semitism and extremism following Sunday's Hanukkah attacks.
This happened as mourners gathered in Sydney for the funeral of 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest of the 15 victims, The Guardian said.
“Of course, look, more can always be done. Governments are not perfect. I'm not perfect either,” Prime Minister Albanese said.
Responding to the Prime Minister's admission, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said “more should have been done” to combat anti-Semitism in Australia following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, as she revealed her own plans.
The prime minister's focus on tightening gun control laws in the immediate aftermath of Sunday's shooting has prompted claims, including from former Liberal prime minister John Howard, that Australia's current head of government is trying to distract attention from a failure to respond adequately to rising anti-Semitism.
Anthony Albanese, who convened the national security committee on Thursday morning, said his government “accepts and fully supports” the plan to combat anti-Semitism. However, the document outlining the new plan only says that the government will “work” to implement the 13 recommendations.
The five-point plan announced Thursday would increase penalties for serious hate speech for preachers and leaders who promote violence. It would also make hate an aggravating factor in sentencing for online threats and harassment.
According to the Australian Prime Minister, these measures will also include building a mechanism to list organizations whose leaders participate in inciting hatred, promoting violence or racial hatred.
The government initially planned to include anti-defamation provisions in the bill, but it was later dropped due to opposition from religious groups. Albanese did not rule out the possibility of parliament convening later to discuss the new law, although he admitted that “complex” changes would need to be carefully prepared to withstand the regulatory burden.
The Bondi Beach shooting, the worst terror attack in Australian history, appears to have been inspired by Islamic State, authorities say.
Home Secretary Tony Burke said the new law would lower the threshold for prosecution for hate speech, adding that individuals and organizations could now “exceed the law” without technically offending.
“There have been organizations that any Australian would look at and say that their behaviour, their philosophy and what they are trying to do is divisive and has no place in Australia,” Burke said, “and yet, for a generation, no government has been able to successfully take action against them because they are just below the legal threshold.” Today, we are announcing that we are raising that threshold.”
Federal Police Commissioner Chrissie Barrett said “hate preachers” were in their sights.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese admitted that since October 7, 2023, Australia had seen a rise in anti-Semitism, “leading on Sunday to one of the worst mass killings this country has ever seen”.
“This is an attack on our Jewish community, but it is also an attack on the Australian way of life. Australians are shocked and angry. I am very angry. Clearly we need to do more to fight this evil, much more,” the head of the Australian government said.
