Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has recalled parliament two weeks early to debate urgent legislation introducing tougher hate speech laws and gun reform, following the Bondi terror attack that killed 15 people last month. MPs will return to Canberra on 19 and 20 January to consider a bill that combines new racial vilification offences, a crackdown on 'hate preachers', and the largest gun buyback programme since the Port Arthur massacre.
The proposed laws will create a new racial vilification offence, allow groups to be listed as prohibited hate groups under a lower threshold than terror listings, and ensure offenders driven by extremism have that motivation factored into sentencing. The home affairs minister will gain powers to cancel or refuse visas, and a formal hate group listing scheme will be established. The government says the bill is designed to tackle both the hatred and the weapons used in the attack.
Opposition leader Sussan Ley expressed scepticism, saying the single bill attempts to cover 'multiple complex and unrelated policy areas' and accused Albanese of prioritising political interests over national interest. Some Nationals and One Nation MPs oppose stricter gun laws, while states including Tasmania insist the federal government pay the full cost of the buyback. One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce called for a ban on burning the Australian flag to be included.
Attorney General Michelle Rowland described the new laws as 'the toughest hate laws Australia has ever seen'. Jewish groups welcomed the move, with Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Peter Wertheim saying it was a 'promising sign' but cautioning that the provisions must provide adequate protection. The bill will be reviewed by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security before being introduced.
