Australia's federal parliament is on the brink of enacting what the government calls "the strongest hate speech laws that Australia's ever had," following intense negotiations triggered by last month's deadly terror attack at Bondi Beach.
Late-Night Negotiations Yield Breakthrough
As a special sitting of parliament entered its second day on Tuesday, a political compromise appeared within reach. Liberal MPs are now expected to support watered-down hate speech provisions and new legal powers to designate extremist organisations, despite potential opposition from their Coalition partners, the Nationals.
The breakthrough follows emotional tributes in parliament on Monday for the victims of the Bondi attack, where fifteen people were killed. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke expressed growing optimism, stating, "I think we're really close." He acknowledged the final laws would not be as robust as the government initially desired but emphasised their historic significance.
Controversy Over New Powers and Gun Control
Parallel to the hate speech debate, new gun control laws are set to pass with Greens support. These laws, a direct response to the Bondi tragedy, will establish the largest gun buyback scheme since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. They will also mandate intelligence agencies, including ASIO, to conduct criminal checks on firearms licence applicants.
However, the proposed powers to ban extremist organisations have drawn criticism. Nationals backbencher Matt Canavan warned against a clause relating to "economic and psychological harm" and confirmed he would vote against the legislation, calling the rules too broad. Attorney General Michelle Rowland defended the provisions, noting they mirror existing regimes for listing terrorist organisations.
Nationals leader David Littleproud criticised the gun laws as a diversion, arguing that better policing, not tighter licensing, could have prevented the Bondi attack. "This is a failure of process, not a failure of gun licensing," he stated.
Path to a Compromise
Facing cross-parliamentary pressure, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed at the weekend to split the draft legislation, shelving contentious anti-racial vilification measures. Key amendments, now backed by both Labor and the Coalition, will subject the new hate speech laws to a review after two years by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS).
The PJCIS issued a report early on Tuesday urging politicians to "work together in a constructive and collaborative manner" against antisemitism, hate, and extremism. Coalition members of the committee, however, filed a dissenting report, labelling the bill "poorly drafted, unclear in its operation, insufficiently safeguarded and inadequately consulted on."
Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonathon Duniam indicated the opposition was ready to support the revised plan, focused on minimising unintended risks. The final votes are expected to take place on Tuesday, marking a significant legislative response to the recent national trauma.
