PM Albanese announces hate speech crackdown after Bondi Beach shooting

Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday announced his government will seek to crack down on hate speech following last weekend's terrorist shooting that killed 15 people.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House in Canberra, Albanese said the attorney general and minister for Home Affairs will develop a package of legislation "to crack down on those who spread hate, division and radicalization."

The prime minister's office said in a statement that the legislation will include five objectives, including the creation of an aggravated hate speech offense for preachers and leaders who promote violence and increased penalties for hate speech that promotes violence.

The other objectives include establishing "hate" as an aggravating factor in sentencing for online threat and harassment crimes, developing a federal offense for "serious vilification" based on race or advocating racial supremacy and a regime for listing organizations whose leaders engage in hate speech promoting violence or racial hatred.

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During the press conference, Albanese said the minister for Home Affairs would also have new powers to cancel or reject visas for those accused of spreading hate and division in Australia or are believed to do so if allowed into the country.

"Every Jewish Australian has the right to be proud of who they are and what they believe," Albanese said.

"And every Jewish Australian has the right to feel safe, valued and respected for the contribution that they make to our great nation."

On Sunday, a father-son duo fatally shot 15 people and wounded 40 others in a terrorist attack on Bondi Beach targeting Australia's Jewish community at the start of Hanukkah.

The 50-year-old father was killed by police at the scene. The 24-year-old son remains hospitalized. He has been charged with dozens of offenses, including 15 counts of murder.

Albanese earlier this week said the alleged shooters were motivated by the ideology of the Islamic State.

At the press conference Wednesday, Albanese said the alleged shooters sought to turn Australians against one another, but instead "Australians have responded to that act of hatred with love and sympathy for those in mourning."

Australia has seen a series of anti-Jewish incidents and attacks since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023.

In July 2024, Australia appointed its first-ever anti-Semitism envoy. Last July, the envoy, Jillian Segal, presented a report that included 13 recommendations, which Albanese said Wednesday were being adopted.

Among the measures includes the creation of task force to ensure the Australian education system prevents and responds to anti-Semitism.

"Children aren't born anti-Semitic. Children aren't born with hate in their hearts. This is something that's taught; this is something that's learned," Education Minister Jason Clare said during the press conference.

"There's lots of things that we need to do to tackle and weed out anti-Semitism, but what we do in education is an important part of that."