Australian Prime Minister announces tougher measures to curb hate speech following the Bondi shooting.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a tougher crackdown on hate speech after Sunday’s deadly shooting at Bondi Beach, which targeted a Jewish festival.
Fifteen people were killed when two gunmen opened fire during an event marking the first day of Hanukkah. Speaking in Canberra, Albanese said new laws would focus on “those who spread hate, division and radicalisation”.
Under the proposed measures, the home affairs minister will gain expanded powers to refuse or cancel visas for individuals who promote hate. A new taskforce will also be established to ensure the education system effectively prevents, addresses and responds to antisemitism.
The legislation will introduce penalties for preachers and leaders who incite violence, create a new federal offence of “aggravated hate speech”, and treat “hate” as an aggravating factor when sentencing crimes involving online threats and harassment.
“Every Jewish Australian has the right to feel safe, valued and respected for the contribution they make to our great nation,” Albanese said. He added that the attackers, inspired by ISIS, had attempted to divide Australians, but the country had responded with compassion and solidarity.
Tensions have remained high since the attack. On Thursday, New South Wales Police detained seven men in southwest Sydney after receiving a tip-off about a possible planned violent act. Police said there was no identified link between those detentions and the Bondi investigation. Two vehicles were intercepted on George Street, with media footage showing armed officers detaining people shortly after Albanese’s address.
Antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal, who also spoke at the press conference, described the situation as a critical moment not only for Australia’s Jewish community but for the global fight against antisemitism. Albanese confirmed his government would fully support and adopt the recommendations Segal presented in a report released in July.
That report faced criticism over concerns about free speech, including proposals to monitor universities and arts organisations and withhold funding if they failed to address antisemitism. Critics warned such measures could be used to suppress pro-Palestinian protests.
The Jewish Council of Australia welcomed Albanese’s commitment to action, particularly his focus on gun control and online hate. However, it expressed concern that parts of the announcement resembled long-standing proposals from pro-Israel lobby groups that, it argued, do not address violent extremism.
“If education initiatives such as university scorecards become a form of ideological policing—especially if they restrict legitimate criticism of Israel—they will make Jews less safe and undermine efforts to combat antisemitism,” said Dr Max Kaiser, the council’s executive officer.
Albanese also acknowledged criticism from within the Jewish community that his government had not done enough to counter antisemitism since the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel, admitting that more could have been done.
“I accept my responsibility as prime minister,” he said. “But I also accept my responsibility to unite the nation, because what people need right now is not more division.”
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government was effectively lowering the tolerance threshold for hate speech. He noted that some individuals had exploited Australia’s free speech protections to use dehumanising and unacceptable language without technically inciting violence.
Daniel Aghion, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said he would reserve judgment until the details of the measures were clear. “We warned after 7 October about the dangers of failing to address antisemitism promptly and effectively,” he said. “It is tragic that it has taken the massacre of Jewish and other Australians for decisive action to be taken.”
