A significant typographical error has been discovered on the cover of the Albanese government's flagship legislation to combat hate speech, as the Prime Minister faces mounting accusations of rushing the contentious reforms through Parliament.
A Costly Spelling Mistake
On the first page of the explanatory memorandum for the 319-page Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, the word 'antisemitism' is misspelt. In large capital letters on the document's cover, it appears as 'ANTISEMITSM', missing the second 'i'. The memorandum, which outlines the intent and details of the proposed law, is noted as having been 'circulated by authority' of Attorney-General Michelle Rowland.
This embarrassing error has emerged alongside fierce political debate over the bill's timeline and content. Critics argue the legislation is being fast-tracked without adequate scrutiny, a claim Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has forcefully rejected.
Opposition Declares Bill 'Unsalvageable'
On Thursday, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley escalated the conflict, declaring the bill in its present form was 'unsalvageable'. She joined a chorus of voices, including from within civil society, expressing deep concerns about the proposal's potential impact on religious freedom and free speech.
Prime Minister Albanese dismissed the criticism, labelling the Coalition's position as 'stunning' given their previous demands for Parliament to be recalled urgently after the Bondi Beach attack. "They were calling for parliament to be resumed immediately," Albanese stated. "Now they're saying that this is somehow rushed, even though my government has moved in a considered, orderly way."
Timeline and Scrutiny Under Fire
The government allowed the public just three days to provide feedback on the complex legislation, with public hearings held on Tuesday and Wednesday. Submissions are set to close on Thursday at 4pm.
Ms Ley rejected accusations of hypocrisy, standing by her earlier calls to recall Parliament. She argued that an earlier return could have allowed for proper examination of the bill. "Had [the government] listened to us... we could already have had a package introduced into the Parliament with the necessary parliamentary scrutiny already underway," she said.
Ley also criticised the government for a lack of consultation with the Opposition and insisted the bill fails to address root causes. "The legislation does not address the real issues that gave rise to the Bondi attack. It doesn't address Islamic extremism, ISIS influence, and it doesn't address the rise of antisemitism," she asserted.
With the Coalition signalling it will seek to introduce amendments and potentially withhold support, the government's numbers in the Senate are tight. Prime Minister Albanese confirmed the bill will be introduced to Parliament on Monday, with the aim of passing both houses by Tuesday. If the Coalition opposes it, Albanese will need the support of all ten Greens senators to secure the bill's passage.
