The Queensland Government has made 11th-hour changes to its hate speech legislation, rolling back extraordinary proposed powers amid widespread criticism. Source: ABC News.
The laws would ban two phrases deemed antisemitic by the Government: “From the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada”.
But the legislation originally also left scope for the Attorney-General to ban any expression that incited violence, harm or offence.
Despite the Government assuring it was only focused on the two highlighted phrases and ruling out further additions, it changed tack late on Monday.
Changes to the bill will mean the chants are specified in the legislation, and any new inclusions will require further legislation and face the scrutiny of parliament.
In a statement, Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the Government had “listened carefully to Queenslanders”.
The extraordinary proposed powers were widely criticised through the parliamentary committee process, from legal and religious groups to civil liberty experts.
It was supported by the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies, which said the two phrases played a key role in incidents designed to intimidate Jewish people.
The legislation was introduced to crack down on antisemitism in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack.
The maximum penalty for breaching the proposed law is two years in jail.
Opposition Leader Steven Miles on Monday said his party would vote for the wide-ranging legislation but held serious reservations.
However, speaking to ABC Radio Brisbane yesterday, Mr Miles said Labor would now need to see the new proposed laws.
A separate component of the bill is major gun law reforms, including mandating that new gun licence applicants be Australian citizens.
Other changes include bolstered penalties for a range of firearm offences around stealing and trafficking, and new offences for drive-by shootings, particularly at places of worship.
State parliament is expected to debate and pass the gun reforms and hate speech legislation this week.
FULL STORY
Queensland government makes 11th-hour changes to hate speech laws after criticism (By Alex Brewster, ABC News)
