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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced sweeping hate speech legislation Thursday following a terror attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that killed 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl, though he resisted mounting pressure to convene Parliament immediately or establish a Royal Commission into the massacre.
The National Security Committee agreed to five broad legislative changes targeting antisemitic violence, including new aggravated offenses for leaders who promote violence, increased penalties for hate speech, and provisions to list organizations whose leaders engage in incitement. The Attorney-General and Home Affairs Minister will develop the specific legislation.
“Every Jewish Australian has the right to be proud of who they are and what they believe. And every Jewish Australian has the right to feel safe,” Albanese said at a press conference from Parliament House.
The reforms follow Sunday’s attack during Hanukkah celebrations, when alleged gunman Naveed Akram, 24, opened fire on beachgoers. Akram has been charged with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder and committing a terrorist act. Seventeen victims remain hospitalized, with one in critical condition.
However, Albanese declined to recall Parliament before year’s end, citing the complexity of the proposed laws and the need for broad parliamentary consultation. He also did not commit to a Royal Commission, despite calls from Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and former treasurer Josh Frydenberg.
In an emotional speech at the attack site, Frydenberg accused the government of ignoring warning signs and failing its duty to protect Jewish Australians. He called for immediate deportation of hate preachers and stronger immigration controls.
“Now is the time for accountability and action because this horrible event was all too predictable and we had a government that ignored the warning signs,” Frydenberg said.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke dismissed Royal Commission calls, telling the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, “You don’t want the delays that are involved.” Burke has faced criticism for allegedly ignoring July recommendations from government antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal.
Investigators are examining whether authorities failed to flag the alleged shooters’ activities during a month-long trip to extremism hotspots in the southern Philippines, where credit card transactions should have triggered alerts under money laundering laws.
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