Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that Australia’s parliament will be recalled to introduce new hate speech and gun control legislation following the Bondi terror attack of Dec. 14.
Albanese said both houses of parliament will sit on Jan. 19 and 20, earlier than the previously scheduled return date of Feb. 2.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the prime minister said the proposed laws would address both extremist ideology and access to weapons.
“The terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds but guns in their hands. This law will deal with both, and we need to deal with both,” Albanese said.
The proposed legislation, titled the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill, contains a broad package of reforms aimed at tackling hate-driven violence.
Key provisions include tougher penalties for hate crimes, new serious offences targeting hate preachers who seek to radicalise young Australians, and laws against inciting hatred for the purpose of intimidation or harassment. The bill also strengthens the ban on prohibited symbols.
If passed, the legislation would expand the powers of the minister for home affairs to cancel or refuse visas for individuals intent on spreading hatred and allow for the listing of organisations as prohibited hate groups.
Before debate on the bill begins, the government plans to move a condolence motion to honour victims of the Bondi attack.
The legislation will also establish a National Guns Buyback Scheme aimed at removing illegal firearms from Australian streets.
“We want to ensure that Australia remains a society where everyone has the right to be proud of who they are,” Albanese said. “We also want to make it clear that conduct which is hateful, dangerous and divisive will be illegal.”