Federal and state leaders are preparing a renewed crackdown on hate preachers and violent vilification after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shifted focus from gun control to antisemitism. Source: The Australian.
Multiple sources have confirmed that as part of fast-tracking their response to recommendations from antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal, members of National Cabinet will target extremist preaching and other forms of hate speech deemed to incite violence.
The growing consensus on anti-vilification laws comes as former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg yesterday called for a ban on “hate preachers”, pointing to Islamic preachers who were celebrating the October 7 attack days after the atrocity with no repercussions.
He also urged Mr Albanese to establish a national royal commission into the Bondi attack.
After initially flagging gun reform as the priority, Mr Albanese yesterday said he will do “whatever is necessary” to stamp out antisemitism, flagging additional powers for police and security agencies.
“We need to learn any lessons that are learned from this, undertake stronger action, undertake any legislative change, undertake any powers, additional powers that are needed across the board, to work with the Jewish community,” he said in Sydney.
“We want to stamp out and eradicate antisemitism from our society. We want to also stamp out the evil ideology of what would appear to be, from the investigators, an ISIS-inspired attack. That has no place, that sort of hatred.”
Ms Segal’s report flagged an overhaul of state and territory laws dealing with antisemitic and other hateful or intimidating conduct, including serious vilification offences, the public promotion of hatred and antisemitic sentiment, the display of Nazi and other prohibited symbols and gestures and cracking down on intimidating behaviour at protests.
A National Cabinet source said anti-vilification legislation was “all over the place” across jurisdictions, arguing that strengthening laws and making them more uniform should be a key priority in coming weeks.
The Albanese Government is also expected to accelerate work with states and territories on another key Segal recommendation to embed Holocaust and antisemitism education in school curricula, in co-ordination with religious and independent school systems.
FULL STORY
National Cabinet to move against hate preachers post-Bondi as Albanese focuses on antisemitism (By Anthony Galloway, The Australian)
