The Australian state of New South Wales is set to introduce tough new legislation banning the public display of Islamic State group flags and other extremist symbols. This move comes directly in response to a horrific mass shooting that killed 15 people at Sydney's Bondi Beach.
Proposed Laws and New Police Powers
Under draft laws to be debated by the state Parliament on Monday, publicly displaying the IS flag or symbols from other extremist groups will become a criminal offense. Those found guilty could face up to two years in prison and significant fines.
The state’s premier, Chris Minns, announced that the chant “globalize the intifada” will also be specifically banned. Police will be granted greater powers to demand protesters remove face coverings during demonstrations. "Hate speech or incitement of hatred has no place in our society," Minns stated on Saturday.
Context of the Bondi Beach Terror Attack
The proposed reforms follow Sunday's attack, which police have declared “a terrorist attack inspired by (the) Islamic State” group. The assault targeted a Hanukkah celebration on Australia's most famous beach. Officers discovered two homemade IS flags in the vehicle used by the two suspects.
Premier Minns linked the new measures directly to the tragedy, stating, "Horrific, recent events have shown that the chant ‘globalize the intifada’ is hate speech and encourages violence in our community." While pro-Palestinian demonstrators argue the slogan refers to worldwide protests against the war in Gaza, Jewish leaders contend it inflames tensions and encourages attacks on Jews.
National Response and Rising Antisemitism
At a national level, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to introduce a suite of measures to curb radicalisation and hate. These include:
- Broadening the definition of hate speech offenses for preachers and leaders who promote violence.
- Toughening punishments for such crimes.
- Allowing judges to consider hate as an aggravating factor in cases of online threats and harassment.
- Tightening Australia's already strict gun laws.
The attack has sparked serious concerns about the safety of Australian Jews amidst rising antisemitism. A government report in July from Special Envoy Jillian Segal revealed that antisemitic incidents surged more than threefold in the year following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel's subsequent war in Gaza. Australia, with a population of 28 million, is home to approximately 117,000 Jewish people.
