Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged swift and united national action to combat antisemitism and extremist violence, announcing a sweeping package of tougher hate-crime laws in the wake of the deadly Bondi terror attack.
Speaking at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday, Mr Albanese said the attack was an “ISIS-inspired, antisemitic act of terrorism” designed to divide Australians, but stressed that unity had prevailed as thousands gathered at Bondi for a vigil just days later.
“Love will triumph over hatred, and light will triumph over darkness,” the Prime Minister said, apologising to Australia’s Jewish community for the trauma they have endured.
“As Prime Minister, I feel the weight of responsibility for an atrocity that happened while I hold this office.”
Mr Albanese confirmed Cabinet and the National Security Committee had met repeatedly since the attack, with the government now moving to consult on urgent legislative reforms aimed at cracking down on hate speech, extremist groups and radicalisation.
The proposed measures include creating aggravated offences for hate preaching that advocates violence against protected groups, increasing penalties for existing hate-speech crimes, and making hate motivation an aggravating factor in sentencing for Commonwealth offences. The government is also considering new powers to list and ban “prohibited hate organisations”, criminalising membership, recruitment and support.
Stronger visa cancellation powers are also on the table, allowing the Home Affairs Minister to revoke visas where individuals are suspected of engaging in vilification, hate speech, displaying hate symbols or associating with terrorist or prohibited hate groups. Changes to customs laws would make it easier to block the importation of extremist material and hate symbols at the border.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland described the Bondi attack as “an act of pure evil” and said existing laws had allowed extremists to operate just below the criminal threshold for too long. “That is changing,” she said.
“It needs to change urgently, and it needs to change with unity.”
Ms Rowland revealed the proposed package would also introduce a new aggravated offence targeting adults who seek to radicalise children, citing a sharp rise in minors appearing before the courts on terrorism-related charges.
“We will not allow extremists to groom and brainwash our children into hate or terrorism,” she said, adding that draft legislation would be prepared for introduction in the New Year following consultation with the Jewish community and other stakeholders.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the reforms would address both the motivation and the means behind the attack, pointing to concerns about access to high-powered firearms.
He confirmed the government would also move to make it easier for police to prosecute hate-symbol offences and to formally prohibit extremist organisations that fall short of existing terrorist-listing thresholds. “We have seen groups take hate right to the edge of the law for too long,” Mr Burke said.
“Their behaviour must be unacceptable and unlawful.”
On calls for a national royal commission, Mr Albanese defended the government’s decision to instead commission a rapid security review led by former diplomat Dennis Richardson, arguing it would deliver actionable findings within months rather than years. He confirmed the Commonwealth would cooperate fully with a royal commission announced by the New South Wales Government.
“What we need now is urgency and unity, not division and delay,” the Prime Minister said, urging bipartisan support for both the legislative package and potential firearms reforms. “This is not a time for partisanship,” he added.
“It is a time for the country to come together.”
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