A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry has recommended banning the phrase “globalise the intifada” when it is used to incite hatred, harassment, intimidation, or violence. The Labor-led committee stopped short of an outright ban and did not recommend prohibiting other phrases such as “from the river to the sea”.
The inquiry’s chair, Labor MP Edmond Atalla, confirmed the draft recommendations ahead of a final meeting on Thursday. The report will be published on Friday, allowing for legislation to be voted on after parliament returns next week.
Opposition shadow attorney general Damien Tudehope said he was “deeply unimpressed” with the recommendation, calling it confusing. He argued that the proposed ban covers conduct already unlawful under the Crimes Act, adding “nothing except confusion” and risking “the false impression that other uses are acceptable”.
The draft recommends a “causal element” linking the phrase to specific harm to avoid potential constitutional challenges. Defences for artistic, academic, and educational use would be included.
The inquiry, criticised by the opposition as “rushed” and conducted over the holiday period, received over 500 submissions. Constitutional law expert Professor Anne Twomey noted the difficulty of crafting a constitutionally robust law in such a short timeframe.
