Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will bring in new laws largely focused on “hate speech” and racism in response to the Bondi Islamic terrorist attack.
The sweeping legislative reforms aim to “crack down on those who spread hate, division and radicalisation” the Prime Minister said in Canberra on Thursday, while declaring his government should have done more to “combat the evil scourge” of anti-Semitism.
The Prime Minister outlined a five-point plan after a meeting of the National Security Committee while standing alongside Special Envoy on Combating Anti-Semitism, Jillian Segal, who said the reforms were “a long time coming”.
The five points are:
- aggravated hate speech offence for preachers and leaders who promote violence
- increased penalties for hate speech promoting violence
- making hate an aggravating factor in sentencing crimes for online threats and harassment
- developing a regime for listing organisations whose leaders engage in hate speech promoting violence or racial hatred
- developing a narrow federal offence for serious vilification based on race and/or advocating racial supremacy
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced reforms making it an offence to promote hate or violence, treating ‘hate’ as an aggravating factor for online threats, and criminalising advocacy for “racial supremacy,” with Julie Inman Grant and Anika Wells to monitor online… pic.twitter.com/pAxYovQ6l7
— Australians vs. The Agenda (@ausvstheagenda) December 18, 2025
Mr Albanese said Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke would also get new powers to cancel or reject visas “for those who spread hate and division in this country, or would do so if they were allowed to come here”.
He also announced a 12-month task force to counter anti-Semitism in schools led by education expert David Gonski, and said it was possible that parliament would be recalled to pass the new laws.
The announcements come despite Mr Albanese being hit with heavy criticism for repeatedly deflecting to “right-wing extremism” and talking about Nazi salute bans when asked about the Islamic terror threat.
The Muslim father-and-son terrorists who killed 15 and wounded 40 during the Bondi massacre left ISIS flags at the scene and were able to travel to Phillipines for military-style training with the terror group in November.
Sajid Akram, 50, who was shot dead by police, was also able to obtain a gun licence and the firearms used in the attack despite Naveed Akram, 24, being examined by ASIO for links to convicted Sydney-based terrorists in 2019.
Naveed was charged on Wednesday with 59 offences, including commit terrorist act, 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder, discharge firearm etc intend cause grievous bodily harm, cause public display of prohibited terrorist org symbol, and place explosive in/near building with intent cause harm.
Header image: Left, Mr Albanese announcing the plan. Right, the Islamic terrorists (supplied).
