Displaying hate symbols, funding terrorism and terror crimes will now carry mandatory minimum sentences federally after hate crime laws successfully passed Parliament yesterday. Source: News.com.au.
First proposed by the Coalition, changes to the Hate Crime bill will controversially include jail terms of at least 12 months for displaying hate symbols such as Nazi signs, three years for financing terrorist groups and at least six years for terror offences.
Advocating for and using force or violence to threaten people or groups on the basis of race, religion, disability, ethnic origin or gender identity will also be banned under the new laws.
Despite criticisms from the cross bench, the bill was passed without amendments and supported by the Coalition on Thursday.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the new laws would deliver “landmark reform to strengthen hate speech laws” despite Labor opposing minimum sentencing laws under its own national policy platform.
“No Australian should be targeted because of who they are or what they believe,” he said.
“We are sending a clear and unambiguous message that advocating or threatening violence is not acceptable. It is criminal behaviour and will be treated as such.
“We proudly live in a vibrant, multicultural and diverse community which we must protect and strengthen.”
Meanwhile, the Australian Association of Christian Schools raised its concerns about the impact of the hate crimes bill on faith-based schools, The Australian reports.
While the AACS stated it supported efforts to combat hate-motivated violence, the association’s executive officer, Vanessa Cheng, said including sex and gender identity as protected attributes could lead to limits on traditional religious teachings.
“There is a real risk that the broad definitions and expanded list of attributes could criminalise religious teachings on sex or gender, which could be considered ‘hateful’ or ‘harmful’ by some people,” Ms Cheng said.
“We are concerned the law could be weaponised and lead to a chilling effect on free speech and undermine the ability of churches and faith-based schools to teach and promote their deeply held beliefs.”
Christian Schools Australia said it was concerned about the “unintended consequences” of the bill, which could lead to the “possible criminalisation of religious speech” in educational settings.
FULL STORY
Federal mandatory sentences for terror offences, displaying hate symbols in new hate crimes laws pass (By Jessica Wang, News.com.au)
Hate-crimes bill could have ‘chilling effect’ on free speech, Christian schools warn (By Rhiannon Down, The Australian)
RELATED COVERAGE
Australian Catholic Bishops Confernece’s submission to the bill inquiry, 2024 (Parliament of Australia)
