Australians face more free speech restrictions, more online censorship, a “national hate crime database”, and the nationwide application of a controversial definition of anti-Semitism under new plan launched today.
The Australian government’s Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism Jillian Segal, a Jewish lawyer and pro-Israel advocate who was appointed to the new role last July, announced her Plan to Combat Anti-Semitism alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Thursday.
Mr Albanese promised the government would consider all of the recommendations, saying some would be implemented quickly while others would need more consideration.
JUST IN – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will establish a “national hate crime database”, move to strengthen “hate speech laws”, and “embed antisemitism education” into the school curriculum, following recommendations from the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/w2D1AX4PhI
— Australians vs. The Agenda (@ausvstheagenda) July 10, 2025
Ms Segal’s report recommended a review and possible strengthening of “hate speech” legislation, which has already repeatedly been amended by the Albanese Labor government, and proposes a partnership with the eSafety Commissioner and other agencies to “ensure AI does not amplify anti-Semitic content”.
Social media companies should be required to make their algorithms transparent in order to “prevent the amplification of online hate”, and law enforcement should be supported to “identify and prosecute” Australian who commit online “hate crimes”, the report recommends.
The envoy also recommended stripping funding from universities, charities and cultural institutions that “do not deal effectively with hate or anti-Semitism”, suggested appointing herself as monitor of media organisations, and called for “holocaust and anti-Semitism education” to be embedded in state and national curricula.
In addition, Ms Segal said immigration and citizenship applicants should be screened for anti-Semitic views, recommended visa refusals and cancellations for anti-Semitic conduct and rhetoric, and supports the creation of a national database of anti-Semitic hate crimes and incidents.
The report urged all levels of government to adopt and apply the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of
anti-Semitism, which critics say conflates some criticisms of Israel with criticism of Jews.
Jillian Segal, the Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism, says her plan is “not designed to create a police state,” but to bring the community together in support of multiculturalism. pic.twitter.com/nET5VPbenn
— Australians vs. The Agenda (@ausvstheagenda) July 10, 2025
“We will look at whether it is now necessary to strengthen ‘hate crime’ legislation, including provisions relating to not only incitement and vilification and prohibited symbols, which we have, but actual hatred and the speaking of hatred and demonstrated hatred,” Ms Segal said.
“The plan promotes a nationally consistent approach to teaching about the history, harms and modern forms of anti-Semitism, through the lens of democracy, social inclusion, shared civic responsibility and Australian values.”
Ms Segal said on Thursday morning that the proposed “national hate crime database” was in the process of being established and “will improve recording, monitoring and transparency”.
She later told ABC News it was “not a plan to set up a police state”.
“This is not chilling our democracy, it is in fact trying to enhance our democracy,” she said. “Because if we don’t stamp out anti-Semitism, the Jewish community is fearful, but it’s not only the Jews. The Jews now, but other minority communities will follow.”
Opposition leader Sussan Ley responded to the report by criticising Mr Albanese for not directly committing to implementing any of the recommendations, and her home affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie said combating anti-Semitism required a “whole of government response”.
But Greens senator David Shoebridge warned that conflating legitimate criticism with anti-Semitism was “deeply offensive and wrong”, and Deakin University Associate Professor Matteo Vergani said “the line between anti-Semitism and criticism of Israel has become more difficult and contested than ever”.
🚨 THREAD: Albanese is building a national database to track your opinions.
Say the wrong thing online?
You could be flagged, banned, or denied a visa.
This isn’t about hate.
It’s about power.
Here’s what they’re not telling you:#auspol #auspol25 #auspol2025 #FreeSpeech
1/18 pic.twitter.com/KOQOEMX2bs— George Christensen (@NationFirstAust) July 10, 2025
Former Liberal National Party and One Nation MP George Christensen responded to the plan in a thread on X calling it the “beginning of the end of free speech in Australia” and part of a “digital dictatorship”.
“Let’s be crystal clear: Violence, threats, arson — already illegal. Police already have the tools. So why new laws? New databases? Because this plan isn’t about stopping crime. It’s about controlling you,” he wrote.
“Here’s what’s in the plan: New speech crimes. Uni & arts funding tied to ideology. Media forced to follow ‘anti-hate’ definitions. Mandatory ‘hate’ training for workers. Algorithm regulation & real-name ID. Visa blocks for opinions. This is speech control.
“The worst part? A National Anti-Hate Database. It logs not just crimes — but ‘incidents’. An ‘incident’ = anything someone feels is hateful. No charges. No trial. No appeal. It’s a pre-crime registry for your opinions.
“This is NOT about protecting Jewish Australians. We already have laws against assault, arson, vandalism, stalking, and harassment. This is about building a permanent bureaucracy to police what you think, say, post and believe. And it will not stay limited to anti-Semitism.”
Australian Lawyers Alliance spokesman Greg Barns SC told The Age that calling for new laws so soon after major amendments was “bizarre and dangerous”, and Australia had made international human rights commitments to upload freedom of speech and political expression.
“The temptation will be for universities, cultural institutions and others, including NGOs, to suppress alternative views in relation to Israel,” Mr Barns said.
But Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion, KC, said the actions recommended in the report were “urgently needed”.
“We call upon all sectors of society, including government, law enforcement, the media, the university sector, education authorities and online platform providers, to co-operate with the Special Envoy and the Jewish community to give this action plan full force and effect,” he said.
Header image: Left, Ms Segal after being appointed. Right, Mr Albanese during today’s announcement (Facebook).
