Queensland will become the first Australian state to ban the pro-Palestinian phrases “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada” by bringing in new “hate speech” laws aimed at combatting anti-Semitism.
The new legislation will be introduced to state parliament this week and will also add new Nazi and terrorist symbols to the state’s ban list, and increase penalties from six months to two years’ jail. New laws banning “intimidation” at places of worship with penalties of up to seven years are also included.
Liberal National Party Premier David Crisfaulli said the new “hate speech” laws were devised in response to demands from the Jewish groups following the Bondi Islamic terrorist attack.
“The Jewish community has been clear: Queensland needs stronger legislation backed by real enforcement to drive out anti-Semitism, and that is exactly what we are delivering,” he said on Sunday.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington also emphasised that the LNP government was “standing with the Jewish community”.
We are bolstering protections for the Jewish community, so they know that this Government is doing everything possible to stop the rise of antisemitism,” she said.
The laws include a new offence “prohibiting the public distribution, publication, public display or public recitation of a prescribed phrase to cause menace, harassment or offence, applicable to ‘globalise the intifada’ and ‘from the river to the sea’.
Distributing, publishing, displaying or reciting a prohibited phrase carries a two-year maximum penalty.
The double-sig rune, the sonnenrad and the totenkopf will be banned along with the already-outlawed Nazi swastika. A number of Palestinian, Hamas, Iranian, ISIS and radical Islamist symbols are flags will also be prohibited.
Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies president Jason Steinberg welcomed the proposed new laws.
“For the past two and a half years, the Jewish community has endured unprecedented levels of hate, intimidation and fear and the reforms send a clear message that anti-Semitism and hate have no place in Queensland,” he said.
“Our community greatly appreciates the commitment by the Crisafulli Government to ensure Jewish Queenslanders can live, work and play just like any other Queenslander. This Bill moves beyond words and delivers real, practical protections for our community and for all people targeted by hate.
“This is not only a welcome and necessary step for Jewish people, it is vital for rebuilding the confidence we have lost as hatred has run rampant.”
Header image: Mr Crisafulli meets a member of the Jewish community after the Bondi massacre (Facebook).
